Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Place to make a purchase
SHOP - 2
Opportunity
SHOT - 3
Black stuff in a chimney
SOOT - 4
Sound an owl makes
HOOT - 5
It's attached to some jackets
HOOD
Top + bottom clue
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for what someone working in forestry might do with an axe. 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.
- CHOPTop endpoint
- SHOPCHOP → SHOP changes position 1 from C to S.
- SHOTSHOP → SHOT changes position 4 from P to T.
- SOOTSHOT → SOOT changes position 2 from H to O.
- HOOTSOOT → HOOT changes position 1 from S to H.
- HOODHOOT → HOOD changes position 4 from T to D.
- WOODHOOD → WOOD changes position 1 from H to W.
How the endpoints answer the clue
CHOP + WOOD
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for what someone working in forestry might do with an axe. 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 | CHOP CHOP is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for what someone working in forestry might do with an axe. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | Start of ladder |
| Place to make a purchase | SHOP SHOP is the answer to “Place to make a purchase”. | CHOP → SHOP changes position 1 from C to S. |
| Opportunity | SHOT SHOT is the answer to “Opportunity”. | SHOP → SHOT changes position 4 from P to T. |
| Black stuff in a chimney | SOOT SOOT is the answer to “Black stuff in a chimney”. | SHOT → SOOT changes position 2 from H to O. |
| Sound an owl makes | HOOT HOOT is the answer to “Sound an owl makes”. | SOOT → HOOT changes position 1 from S to H. |
| It's attached to some jackets | HOOD HOOD is the answer to “It's attached to some jackets”. | HOOT → HOOD changes position 4 from T to D. |
| Bottom endpoint | WOOD WOOD is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for what someone working in forestry might do with an axe. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | HOOD → WOOD changes position 1 from H to W. |
How to work out the order
CHOP → SHOP starts the chain with a change in position 1. From there, the changed positions run 1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 1, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- Solve the middle clues, then anchor SHOP beside CHOP because they differ at exactly one position.
- Continue through SHOP → SHOT → SOOT → HOOT → HOOD, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- Place WOOD at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect CHOP with WOOD.
One takeaway
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 1. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #919 · 2026-11-05 · #918 · 2026-11-04