Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Solid precipitation
HAIL - 2
Travel using wind power
SAIL - 3
Spoke aloud
SAID - 4
Beach surface
SAND - 5
Word that can follow "rubber" or "marching"
BAND
Top + bottom clue
The top + bottom rows = Something often found on top of the head, and a word for someone who lacks it. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.
The complete word ladder
Read from top to bottom. Highlighted letters show what changes from the previous word.
- HAIRTop endpoint
- HAILHAIR → HAIL changes position 4 from R to L.
- SAILHAIL → SAIL changes position 1 from H to S.
- SAIDSAIL → SAID changes position 4 from L to D.
- SANDSAID → SAND changes position 3 from I to N.
- BANDSAND → BAND changes position 1 from S to B.
- BALDBAND → BALD changes position 3 from N to L.
How the endpoints answer the clue
HAIR + BALD
The top + bottom rows = Something often found on top of the head, and a word for someone who lacks it. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.
Clue meanings and letter changes
| Clue | Answer & meaning | Change from previous word |
|---|---|---|
| Top endpoint | HAIR HAIR is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Something often found on top of the head, and a word for someone who lacks it. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | Start of ladder |
| Solid precipitation | HAIL HAIL is the answer to “Solid precipitation”. | HAIR → HAIL changes position 4 from R to L. |
| Travel using wind power | SAIL SAIL is the answer to “Travel using wind power”. | HAIL → SAIL changes position 1 from H to S. |
| Spoke aloud | SAID SAID is the answer to “Spoke aloud”. | SAIL → SAID changes position 4 from L to D. |
| Beach surface | SAND SAND is the answer to “Beach surface”. | SAID → SAND changes position 3 from I to N. |
| Word that can follow "rubber" or "marching" | BAND BAND is the answer to “Word that can follow "rubber" or "marching"”. | SAND → BAND changes position 1 from S to B. |
| Bottom endpoint | BALD BALD is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Something often found on top of the head, and a word for someone who lacks it. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | BAND → BALD changes position 3 from N to L. |
How to work out the order
HAIR → HAIL starts the chain with a change in position 4. From there, the changed positions run 4, 1, 4, 3, 1, 3, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- Solve the middle clues, then anchor HAIL beside HAIR because they differ at exactly one position.
- Continue through HAIL → SAIL → SAID → SAND → BAND, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- Place BALD at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect HAIR with BALD.
One takeaway
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 4, 1, 4, 3, 1, 3. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #909 · 2026-10-26 · #908 · 2026-10-25