The same letters, in the same order, can fill the blanks below to complete four familiar words. What are the letters, and what are the words?

 

1. DI _ _ _

2. AN _ _ _

3. R _ _ _ O

4. Y _ _ _ L 

5. M _ _ _ L

6. R _ _ _ NT

7. M_ _ _ RN

Answers:

 

The missing letters are ODE:

 

1. DIODE

2. ANODE

3. RODEO

4. YODEL

5. MODEL

6. RODENT

7. MODERN