BAT, CAT, FAT, HAT

Thousands of words in English can be formed by changing the initial letter of a word, while not re-arranging any of the other letters. A common example would be the short A sound list often used in early reading instruction: BAT, CAT, FAT, HAT, etc. What pattern of words of at least four letters can you think of that gives the most examples of this pattern? Can you think of examples of words where the final letter or one of the interior letters is changed without re-arranging any of the other letters? Names are not allowed.

(Possible) Answers:

Initial letter change
4-letter words

BEAR
DEAR
FEAR
GEAR
HEAR
NEAR
PEAR
REAR
SEAR
TEAR
WEAR (11)

Initial letter change
5-letter words 

BREED
CREED
FREED
GREED (4) 

Initial letter change
6-letter words 

ARISES
CRISES
 IRISES

Final letter change
4-letter words

HERB
HERD
HERE
HERO 
HERS (5)

Interior letter change
5-letter words

TRIES
TRIMS
TRIOS
TRIPS (4)

NOTE: See also THE TROUBLE WITH TRIPLES I - posted 5/14/14