Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
What a gondolier uses for propulsion
POLE - 2
Heap
PILE - 3
You might use it on your nails
FILE - 4
___-in-the-blank
FILL - 5
What someone must pay before leaving the restaurant
BILL
Top + bottom clue
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a sphere for catching creatures in a massively popular game series. 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.
- POKETop endpoint
- POLEPOKE → POLE changes position 3 from K to L.
- PILEPOLE → PILE changes position 2 from O to I.
- FILEPILE → FILE changes position 1 from P to F.
- FILLFILE → FILL changes position 4 from E to L.
- BILLFILL → BILL changes position 1 from F to B.
- BALLBILL → BALL changes position 2 from I to A.
How the endpoints answer the clue
POKE + BALL
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a sphere for catching creatures in a massively popular game series. 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 | POKE POKE is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a sphere for catching creatures in a massively popular game series. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | Start of ladder |
| What a gondolier uses for propulsion | POLE POLE is the answer to “What a gondolier uses for propulsion”. | POKE → POLE changes position 3 from K to L. |
| Heap | PILE PILE is the answer to “Heap”. | POLE → PILE changes position 2 from O to I. |
| You might use it on your nails | FILE FILE is the answer to “You might use it on your nails”. | PILE → FILE changes position 1 from P to F. |
| ___-in-the-blank | FILL FILL is the answer to “___-in-the-blank”. | FILE → FILL changes position 4 from E to L. |
| What someone must pay before leaving the restaurant | BILL BILL is the answer to “What someone must pay before leaving the restaurant”. | FILL → BILL changes position 1 from F to B. |
| Bottom endpoint | BALL BALL is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a sphere for catching creatures in a massively popular game series. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | BILL → BALL changes position 2 from I to A. |
How to work out the order
POKE → POLE starts the chain with a change in position 3. From there, the changed positions run 3, 2, 1, 4, 1, 2, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- Solve the middle clues, then anchor POLE beside POKE because they differ at exactly one position.
- Continue through POLE → PILE → FILE → FILL → BILL, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- Place BALL at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect POKE with BALL.
One takeaway
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 3, 2, 1, 4, 1, 2. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #915 · 2026-11-01 · #913 · 2026-10-30