Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Half-___ (like an optimist's water glass)
FULL - 2
Opposite of "rise," as a noun or a verb
FALL - 3
Formal dance, like the one Cinderella attended
BALL - 4
Show reluctance about an idea
BALK - 5
Place to deposit or withdraw money
BANK
Top + bottom clue
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a container that an engine draws from in order to run. 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.
- FUELTop endpoint
- FULLFUEL → FULL changes position 3 from E to L.
- FALLFULL → FALL changes position 2 from U to A.
- BALLFALL → BALL changes position 1 from F to B.
- BALKBALL → BALK changes position 4 from L to K.
- BANKBALK → BANK changes position 3 from L to N.
- TANKBANK → TANK changes position 1 from B to T.
How the endpoints answer the clue
FUEL + TANK
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a container that an engine draws from in order to run. 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 | FUEL FUEL is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a container that an engine draws from in order to run. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | Start of ladder |
| Half-___ (like an optimist's water glass) | FULL FULL is the answer to “Half-___ (like an optimist's water glass)”. | FUEL → FULL changes position 3 from E to L. |
| Opposite of "rise," as a noun or a verb | FALL FALL is the answer to “Opposite of "rise," as a noun or a verb”. | FULL → FALL changes position 2 from U to A. |
| Formal dance, like the one Cinderella attended | BALL BALL is the answer to “Formal dance, like the one Cinderella attended”. | FALL → BALL changes position 1 from F to B. |
| Show reluctance about an idea | BALK BALK is the answer to “Show reluctance about an idea”. | BALL → BALK changes position 4 from L to K. |
| Place to deposit or withdraw money | BANK BANK is the answer to “Place to deposit or withdraw money”. | BALK → BANK changes position 3 from L to N. |
| Bottom endpoint | TANK TANK is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a container that an engine draws from in order to run. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | BANK → TANK changes position 1 from B to T. |
How to work out the order
FUEL → FULL starts the chain with a change in position 3. From there, the changed positions run 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 1, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- Solve the middle clues, then anchor FULL beside FUEL because they differ at exactly one position.
- Continue through FULL → FALL → BALL → BALK → BANK, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- Place TANK at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect FUEL with TANK.
One takeaway
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 1. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #917 · 2026-11-03 · #916 · 2026-11-02