Word Puzzles
Many individual puzzles are posted in pdf format, convenient for printing.
Detailed directions and solutions are included.
​
Claire's Advice for Solving Puzzles and Problems
​
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6bad76_eafc2b5b399c47c0aff5944e40e9a248~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_120,h_133,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/6bad76_eafc2b5b399c47c0aff5944e40e9a248~mv2.jpg)
New ~ Midi-Cryptic
​
​
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6bad76_54a4d3036db740aba858333617a1cf87~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_168,h_223,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/6bad76_54a4d3036db740aba858333617a1cf87~mv2.png)
Nothing in Common
Use the letters in the center to create a cycle of 5 letter words in which each word contains none of the letters in the adjacent words.
​
​
![Nothing in Common.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6bad76_ba3b9bba06ea40cc97f7a799b5d9c726~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_160,h_134,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Nothing%20in%20Common.jpg)
Crisscross Crunch
The answer words read straight across or down, but they overlap by 1, 2, 3, or 4 letters. The clues are in alphabetical order according to answers.
​
![cccgrid175.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6bad76_70e6c153b50a498bb9d3d57a81a346c6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_160,h_160,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/cccgrid175.jpg)
Five and Ten
Each word in the two lists of 10 five-letter words is missing one letter. Choose the right letters to fill in the blanks and you will spell, in order, a 10-letter final answer.
![Five&Ten Screen Shot 2021-09-05 at 5.24.34 PM.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6bad76_ba989db462dd40f9b49cb93b8da8ffb2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_190,h_151,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Five%26Ten%20Screen%20Shot%202021-09-05%20at%205_24_34%20PM.jpg)
Mini-Cryptic
Cryptic clues usually contain two parts. One is a straight definition of the answer, and the other is a cryptic description utilizing wordplay. The order and the divide between parts are for the solver to figure out.
![midigrid7s5s.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6bad76_c57968076612478e97b621340c40a277~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_160,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/midigrid7s5s.jpg)
Fit for Four
Find one word that can precede or follow each of the four words to create a compound or hyphenated word or a familiar two-word phrase.
![FiF diamond.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6bad76_ba28b941ce404150b520183678000914~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_159,h_160,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/FiF%20diamond.jpg)
A salad of chopped meat, anchovies, eggs, onions, assorted fruits and vegetables and seasoning. Or in this case, a collection of various and sundry puzzles from the past.
[photo: Jackie Garvin
![salmangundi-3-682x1024 sm.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6bad76_b4a5a9de2abb4feda5927c1eaeec53ea~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_181,h_257,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/salmangundi-3-682x1024%20sm.jpg)