Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Story often presented orally
TALE - 2
Definitely not bold, as a hue
PALE - 3
Average speed at which a runner runs
PACE - 4
Get ready for a business trip
PACK - 5
Little kiss, as on the forehead
PECK
Top + bottom clue
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a popular device for playing music in the 1980s. 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.
- TAPETop endpoint
- TALETAPE → TALE changes position 3 from P to L.
- PALETALE → PALE changes position 1 from T to P.
- PACEPALE → PACE changes position 3 from L to C.
- PACKPACE → PACK changes position 4 from E to K.
- PECKPACK → PECK changes position 2 from A to E.
- DECKPECK → DECK changes position 1 from P to D.
How the endpoints answer the clue
TAPE + DECK
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a popular device for playing music in the 1980s. 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 | TAPE TAPE is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a popular device for playing music in the 1980s. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | Start of ladder |
| Story often presented orally | TALE TALE is the answer to “Story often presented orally”. | TAPE → TALE changes position 3 from P to L. |
| Definitely not bold, as a hue | PALE PALE is the answer to “Definitely not bold, as a hue”. | TALE → PALE changes position 1 from T to P. |
| Average speed at which a runner runs | PACE PACE is the answer to “Average speed at which a runner runs”. | PALE → PACE changes position 3 from L to C. |
| Get ready for a business trip | PACK PACK is the answer to “Get ready for a business trip”. | PACE → PACK changes position 4 from E to K. |
| Little kiss, as on the forehead | PECK PECK is the answer to “Little kiss, as on the forehead”. | PACK → PECK changes position 2 from A to E. |
| Bottom endpoint | DECK DECK is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a popular device for playing music in the 1980s. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | PECK → DECK changes position 1 from P to D. |
How to work out the order
TAPE → TALE starts the chain with a change in position 3. From there, the changed positions run 3, 1, 3, 4, 2, 1, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- Solve the middle clues, then anchor TALE beside TAPE because they differ at exactly one position.
- Continue through TALE → PALE → PACE → PACK → PECK, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- Place DECK at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect TAPE with DECK.
One takeaway
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 3, 1, 3, 4, 2, 1. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #914 · 2026-10-31 · #912 · 2026-10-29