Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Time ___ (when to book a meeting)
SLOT - 2
Blemish that ink often causes
BLOT - 3
Item of footwear worn in soccer/football
BOOT - 4
Something that floats and rhymes with "float"
BOAT - 5
Farm animal that bleats
GOAT
Top + bottom clue
The top + bottom rows = An attempt to score in soccer/football, and the target of that attempt. 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.
- SHOTTop endpoint
- SLOTSHOT → SLOT changes position 2 from H to L.
- BLOTSLOT → BLOT changes position 1 from S to B.
- BOOTBLOT → BOOT changes position 2 from L to O.
- BOATBOOT → BOAT changes position 3 from O to A.
- GOATBOAT → GOAT changes position 1 from B to G.
- GOALGOAT → GOAL changes position 4 from T to L.
How the endpoints answer the clue
SHOT + GOAL
The top + bottom rows = An attempt to score in soccer/football, and the target of that attempt. 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 | SHOT SHOT is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = An attempt to score in soccer/football, and the target of that attempt. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | Start of ladder |
| Time ___ (when to book a meeting) | SLOT SLOT is the answer to “Time ___ (when to book a meeting)”. | SHOT → SLOT changes position 2 from H to L. |
| Blemish that ink often causes | BLOT BLOT is the answer to “Blemish that ink often causes”. | SLOT → BLOT changes position 1 from S to B. |
| Item of footwear worn in soccer/football | BOOT BOOT is the answer to “Item of footwear worn in soccer/football”. | BLOT → BOOT changes position 2 from L to O. |
| Something that floats and rhymes with "float" | BOAT BOAT is the answer to “Something that floats and rhymes with "float"”. | BOOT → BOAT changes position 3 from O to A. |
| Farm animal that bleats | GOAT GOAT is the answer to “Farm animal that bleats”. | BOAT → GOAT changes position 1 from B to G. |
| Bottom endpoint | GOAL GOAL is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = An attempt to score in soccer/football, and the target of that attempt. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | GOAT → GOAL changes position 4 from T to L. |
How to work out the order
SHOT → SLOT starts the chain with a change in position 2. From there, the changed positions run 2, 1, 2, 3, 1, 4, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- Solve the middle clues, then anchor SLOT beside SHOT because they differ at exactly one position.
- Continue through SLOT → BLOT → BOOT → BOAT → GOAT, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- Place GOAL at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect SHOT with GOAL.
One takeaway
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 2, 1, 2, 3, 1, 4. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #912 · 2026-10-29 · #910 · 2026-10-27