Word ladder answers for March 11, 2026

The daily ladder for Wednesday, March 11, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was KITE to BETS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was HAMES to TOWELS, which needs at least 6.

Each solution below is hidden until you open it, so you can try the puzzle first. A shortest solution is shown for every puzzle; many ladders have more than one path of the same length, so yours may differ and still be optimal.

Puzzle 1: KITE to BETS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. K becomes B
  2. E becomes S
  3. I becomes E

Words in this ladder

KITE noun
a bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value
BITE noun
a wound resulting from biting by an animal or a person
BITS noun
a small piece or quantity of something
BETS noun
the money risked on a gamble

Puzzle 2: TRAM to SCRAG

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. T becomes C
  2. add S
  3. M becomes G

Words in this ladder

TRAM noun
a conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers
CRAM verb
crowd or pack to capacity
SCRAM verb
leave immediately; used usually in the imperative form
SCRAG noun
a person who is unusually thin and scrawny

Puzzle 3: KINES to MARTS

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  1. K becomes M
  2. I becomes A
  3. N becomes R
  4. E becomes T

Words in this ladder

KINES noun
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age; ; ; - Bible
MINES noun
excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
MANES noun
a Persian prophet who founded Manichaeism (216-276)
MARES noun
female equine animal
MARTS noun
an area in a town where a public mercantile establishment is set up

Puzzle 4: PET to RAND

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  1. E becomes A
  2. P becomes R
  3. add N
  4. T becomes D

Words in this ladder

PET noun
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
PAT noun
the sound made by a gentle blow
RAT noun
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
RANT noun
a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion
RAND noun
the basic unit of money in South Africa; equal to 100 cents

Puzzle 5: HAMES to TOWELS

Hard Shortest solution: 6 steps

Show the solution
  1. A becomes O
  2. M becomes N
  3. H becomes T
  4. add R
  5. N becomes W
  6. R becomes L

Words in this ladder

HAMES noun
stable gear consisting of either of two curved supports that are attached to the collar of a draft horse and that hold the traces
HOMES noun
where you live at a particular time
HONES noun
a whetstone made of fine gritstone; used for sharpening razors
TONES noun
the quality of a person's voice
TONERS noun
a solution containing chemicals that can change the color of a photographic print
TOWERS noun
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
TOWELS noun
a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping

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