Word ladder puzzles

3-letter word ladder puzzles

Climb from the start word to the goal one letter at a time. The puzzles run from easy to hard.

Change one letter at a time. Every step must be an everyday word, and you cannot reuse a word.

Tips

  • Work from both ends. List a few one-letter neighbors of the start and of the goal. They often meet in the middle.
  • Keep letters that already match the goal.
  • Change consonants first. They open up more words than vowels.
  • Stuck? Press Hint, or paste both words into the word ladder solver.

Print the 3-letter ladders

A worksheet with all 18 puzzles: the start and goal words are filled in, and the boxes between are empty. Answers are at the back.

3-letter word laddersPDF worksheet with answersDownload PDF
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TOWER: daily word ladder

TOWER is our daily word ladder, with a tower that grows as you climb.

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More word ladders

4-letter laddersHarder5-letter laddersHarderWord ladder solverAny two wordsAll word ladder puzzlesHub

Questions

How do word ladders work?

You start with one word and must reach a goal word by changing one letter at a time. Every step has to be a real word. For example COLD, CORD, WORD, WARD, WARM.

How do I know if I did it in the fewest steps?

Each puzzle shows its best possible number of steps. Try to match it.

Can I get a hint?

Yes. The Hint button suggests a next word on a shortest route from where you are.

Who invented word ladders?

Lewis Carroll, in 1877, who called them Doublets.