MENTAL BLOCKS IX
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Sept. 2004
Shawn Kennedy

In each stack of blocks below, use the three-letter word in the top row to complete the rows beneath it. Each letter in the top row must be used at least once in each of the other rows of the stack, and no additional letters may be used. All answers are common words.

1)
                NUT
           S _ _ _ _
          _ A _ _ _
          I _ _ _ I _
        M _ _ A _ _
       _ _ R _ O _ _
      _ _ _ R I E _ _
     _ _ B _ _ _ O _

2)
                               PET
                           _ _ _ _ Y
                          _ _ _ I _ _
                         _ OU _ _ _
                       _ ARA _ _ _
                      _ R _ _ _ O _
                     A _ _ _ _ I _ _
                   _ _ M _ _ RA _ _

Answers:

1)
                             NUT
                          STUNT
                          TAUNT
                          INTUIT
                         MUTANT
                       TURNOUT
                      NUTRIENT
                     UNBUTTON

2)
                                                   PET
                                                PETTY
                                               PETITE
                                              TOUPEE
                                             PARAPET
                                             TREETOP
                                            APPETITE
                                          TEMPERATE