Word ladder answers for September 11, 2026
The daily ladder for Friday, September 11, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was CORK to MORN, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was WOUKS to MEATS, 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: CORK to MORN
Show the solution
- K becomes N
- C becomes M
Words in this ladder
- CORK noun
- outer bark of the cork oak; used for stoppers for bottles etc.
- CORN noun
- tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times
- MORN noun
- the time period between dawn and noon
Puzzle 2: TUBA to NUMBS
Show the solution
- A becomes S
- T becomes N
- add M
Words in this ladder
- TUBA noun
- the lowest brass wind instrument
- TUBS noun
- a relatively large open container that you fill with water and use to wash the body
- NUBS noun
- a small lump or protuberance
- NUMBS verb
- make numb or insensitive
Puzzle 3: BIND to HOCK
Show the solution
- I becomes O
- D becomes K
- B becomes H
- N becomes C
Words in this ladder
- BIND noun
- something that hinders as if with bonds
- BOND noun
- an electrical force linking atoms
- BONK verb
- have sexual intercourse with
- HONK noun
- the cry of a goose (or any sound resembling this)
- HOCK noun
- any of several white wines from the Rhine River valley in Germany (`hock' is British usage)
Puzzle 4: MILT to GAUNT
Show the solution
- L becomes N
- M becomes H
- I becomes U
- H becomes A
- add G
Words in this ladder
- MILT noun
- fish sperm or sperm-filled reproductive gland; having a creamy texture
- MINT noun
- (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
- HINT noun
- an indirect suggestion
- HUNT noun
- Englishman and Pre-Raphaelite painter (1827-1910)
- AUNT noun
- the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
- GAUNT adjective
- very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
Puzzle 5: WOUKS to MEATS
Show the solution
- U becomes R
- W becomes P
- O becomes E
- R becomes A
- K becomes T
- P becomes M
Words in this ladder
- WOUKS noun
- United States writer (born in 1915)
- WORKS noun
- buildings for carrying on industrial labor
- PORKS noun
- meat from a domestic hog or pig
- PERKS noun
- an incidental benefit awarded for certain types of employment (especially if it is regarded as a right)
- PEAKS noun
- the most extreme possible amount or value
- PEATS noun
- partially carbonized vegetable matter saturated with water; can be used as a fuel when dried
- MEATS noun
- the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
Today's puzzles are waiting
A new set of word ladders is released every day, free to play.
Play today's ladder