Fill in the blanks with words that will complete the chain so that each word and the word following it make up a compound word or common two-word phrase. More than one solution may be possible.

SIDE _____ START _____ DRAFT _____ WALK _____BACK _____ JAM _____ HOUSE _____
PAN _____ BAR _____ MASTER _____ CLOWN _____ TANK _____ SIDE

(Possible) Answers:

side KICK start OVER draft BOARD walk OUT back LOG jam PACKED house WARMING pan HANDLE bar HARBOR master CLASS clown FISH tank TOP side

Fill in the blanks with words that will complete the chain so that each word and the word following it make up a compound word or common two-word phrase. More than one solution may be possible.

TOW _____ TIRE _____ MILL ____ STATION _____ CARD _____ SETTING _____ SPOT _____  OFF _____ WRITTEN _____ TUBE _____ TEN _____

(Possible) Answers:

tow TRUCK tire TREAD mill WORK station IDENTIFICATION card TABLE setting SUN spot CHECK off HAND written TEST tube TOP ten TRIBES

Fill in the blanks with words which will complete the chain so that each word and the word following it make up a compound word or common two-word phrase. More than one solution is possible.

MAD_____ORDER_____LOOK_____POINT
_____EAGLE_____LAW_____DANCE_____
SHOW_____STANDING_____FRONT_____
MADE

(Possible) Answer:

madMONEYorderBLANKlookSHARPpoint
SPREADeagleSCOUTlawSCHOOLdanceFLOOR 
showUPstandingWATERfrontMANmade

WORD TAG
NY Times Crossword
March 19, 2000
Greg Staples

Can you fill in the blanks with words which will complete the chain so that each word and the word following it make up a common two-word phrase.

SIDE_____BACK_____WATER_____SHORT
_____BOOK_____HOUSE_____ROOM_____
CHARGE_____TRICK_____DEEP_____DRY
_____UP_____ORDER_____LETTER_____
LINE_____STEP_____TIME_____SHOP_____
SEAT_____BUCKLE_____SIDE_____

Answers:

sideSTEPbackGROUNDwaterFALLshort
STORYbookCLUBhouseGUESTroom
chargeCARDtrickKNEEdeepFREEZEdry
CLEANupSTANDINGorderFORMletter
HEADlineDANCEstepFATHERtime
MACHINEshopWINDOWseatBELTbuckle
DOWNsideSTEP 

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER XIII

NY Times Crossword
November 5, 2006
Derrick Niederman

Can you fill in the blanks with letters or words which will complete the chain so that each letter or word and the letter or word following it make up a common two-letter abbreviation or two-word phrase? The number in ( ) indicates the number of steps used in the answers. (Forgive capitalization and punctuation.)

1. FLAG to DAY  (3)
2. ORANGE to BOWL  (4)
3. e to bay  (4)
4. I to POD  (7)
5. EASTER to BUNNY  (7)

(Possible) Answers:

1. FLAG FOOTBALL FIELD DAY
2. ORANGE JULIUS CAESAR SALAD BOWL
3. e. g. STRING OUT SICK BAY 
4. I. Q. TIP TOP BANANA SPLIT PEA POD
5. EASTER SEAL OFF KEY CHAIN SAW DUST BUNNY

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER XII

Pam Klawitter

Fill in the blanks in this word chain so that each word and the one following it make up a common two-word phrase.

PATROL_____HOUSE_____BENCH_____CONFERENCE
_____BACK_____WATCH_____HOUSE_____FOOD____
DRAFT_____FLY_____NET_____CLASS_____FIGURE
_____COLD_____CHECK_____BLANK_____TRAVEL
_____LADY_____WHALE____SKIN_____BELL_____
DOG_____STOP_____SEA_____PATROL

Answers:

patrolBOAThouseWORKbenchPRESSconference
CALLbackPOCKETwatchDOGhousePLANTfoodBANK
draftHORSEflyFISHINGnetWORKclassACTIONfigure
HEADcoldSPELLcheckPOINTblankSPACEtravel
IRONladyKILLERwhaleSHARKskinDIVINGbellLAP
dogWHISTLEstopDEADseaSHOREpatrol

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER XI

NY Times Crossword
June 22, 2008
Pamela Amick Klawitter
CHAIN REACTION

Fill in the blanks in this word chain so that each word and the one following it make up a common two-word phrase.

FOOD_____CASE_____CIRCUIT_____FOOT_____
ROOM_____ROAD_____LIGHT_____SCREEN_____
BELL_____SPRAY_____BRUSH_____WALL_____
SMART_____POOL_____PIANO_____GRAPH_____
TRAIL_____MASTER_____COUNTER_____
DOLLAR_____POST_____WORKER_____

Answer:

foodCOURTcaseCLOSEDcircuitBOARDfootLOCKER 
roomSERVICEroadHAZARDlightTOUCHscreenDOOR 
bellPEPPERsprayPAINTbrushFIREwallSTREET
smartCARpoolPLAYERpianoBARgraphPAPER
trailHEADmasterCARDcounterTOP
dollarSIGNpostOFFICEworkerBEE

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER X

Fill in the blanks in these word chains so that each word and the one following it make up a common two-word phrase.

1)
GAME _______ SEEING _______ BACK _______ CASE _______ CIRCUIT _______ GAME

2)
ICE _______CASE _______CABINET _______ OFFICE _______ SCHOOL _______ STICK _______ PARK _______ RICK

3)
ROLE _______FIELD _______TRAP _______PRIZE _______ JET _______ ROOM _______ DOG _______ WAY_______ ARM _______ LEADER

Answers:

1)
gameOVERseeingDOUBLEbackCOURTcaseCLOSED circuitBOARDgame 

2)
iceCOLDcaseFILEcabinetPOSTofficePARTYschool YARDstickBALLparkRANGERrick

3)
rolePLAYINGfieldMOUSEtrapDOORprizeFIGHTERjetENGINEroomSERVICEdogRUN waySIDEarmBANDleader

Credit #1:
Paul Hunsberger 

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER IX

FROM DOOR TO DOOR
Arlan and Linda Bushman

Fill in the blanks in this word chain so that each word and the one following it make up a common two-word phrase.

DOOR..........

PRIZE_____SONG_____DOG_____BOAT_____
LEATHER_____POCKET_____BAND_____TRAIN _____SHOW_____MACHINE_____SMOKE_____ DOOR

Answers:

DOORprizeFIGHTsongBIRDdogPADDLEboatSHOE
leatherJACKETpocketWATCHbandWAGONtrain
CARshowTIMEmachineGUNsmokeSCREENdoor
 

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER VIII

Party game for word geeks:

One person picks a word and the next person has to name a word that could follow it to make a familiar phrase or expression. The third person does the same thing with the word of the second person, and so on - or it just rotates between however many players there are. For example, if the first person picked the word WATER, the exchange could proceed as follows:

Water
Mark
Time
Table
Setting
Sun
Spot
Check
Out
Door
Stop
Cold
Shower
Curtain
Call
Center
Court ................

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER VII

STATION TO STATION
Credit: GAMES Magazine
March, 1983
Barry Cohen

Can you fill in the missing links with a word that will pair up with the word above it and the one below it to form a familiar compound word, hyphenated word, or two-word phrase? For example, given the clues

STATION
________
NECK
________
PIN
________ , the missing words would be BREAK, TIE, and WHEEL - as in station break, breakneck, necktie, tie pin, and pin wheel.

STATION
________
NECK
________
PIN
________
CHAIR
________
OFF
________
BLIND
________
CAT
________
STORY
________
CLUB
________
FOUNTAIN
________
FIRST
________
BUG
________
GUN
________
WATER
________
JAM
________
RAT
________
HORSE
________
GROUND
________
WILD
________
TIME
________
TOP
________
SERVICE
________

Answers:

Station break, breakneck, necktie, tie pin, pinwheel, wheel chair, chair lift, lift off, off color, color blind, blind alley, alley cat, cat fish, fish story, story book, book club, club soda, soda fountain, fountain head, head first, first lady, lady bug, bug spray, spray gun, gun fire, fire water, water log, log jam, jam pack, pack rat, rat race, race horse, horse play, play ground, ground hog, hog wild, wild life, lifetime, timetable, table top, top secret, secret service, service station

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER VI

Can you supply the missing links in the word chains below? Ignore word spacing and hyphens.

1)
.......CASH.......BELL.......MILL.......WORK.......VALUE

2)
POOL....WAY....BASE....BEAN....BOWL....DAY....MEAL.... BOOTH

3)
HOUSE.....LINE.....WAY.....KICK......HAND......NIGHT......DATE......STORE

Answers:

1)
PETTYcashCOWbellPEPPERmillSTONEworkPLACE value 

2)
poolHALLwayOFFbaseJUMPINGbeanSALADbowl GAMEdayLIGHTmealTICKETbooth

3)
housePARTYlineDRIVEwaySIDEkickBACKhandOVERnightCOURTdateBOOKstore

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER V

Can you supply the missing links in the word chains below? Ignore word spacing and hyphens.

1. LOCAL..........BLIND..........CHECK..........OUT..........OFF
2. OFF..........CRAFT..........GAME..........LIGHT..........HITTER
3. CASH..........BELL..........SCOTCH..........MEASURE

Answers:

1. localCOLORblindSPOTcheckSTANDoutCASToff
2. offHANDcraftFAIRgameDAYlightSWITCHhitter
3. cashCOWbellHOPscotchTAPEmeasure 

MAKING ENDS MEET
Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick

The word chains below go from SIDE to SIDE. Can you supply the missing links? There may be more than one choice in some cases. Ignore word spacing and hyphens.

1. SIDE..........PLACE..........STAND..........SIDE
2. SIDE..........UP..........SIDE
3. SIDE..........OUT..........BACK..........SIDE
4. SIDE..........WALK..........SIDE
5. SIDE..........HORN..........DOWN..........SIDE
6. SIDE..........OUT..........SIDE

(Possible) Answers:

1. sideSHOWplaceKICKstandINside
2. sideLINEupRIVERside
3. sideBURNoutCOMEbackROADside
4. sideBOARDwalkWAYside
5. sideLONGhornPIPEdownUNDERside
6. sideDISHoutBACKside

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER IV

Can you supply the missing links in the word chains below? Ignore word spacing and hyphens.

1. DRIVEN..........WHITE..........CARD..........TANK
2. DOUBLE..........WORD..........AREA..........BREAKER
3. BIG..........STREET..........MONEY..........SURGEON
4. ABSOLUTE..........LUNCH..........POINT..........TOWER
5)
LIGHT..........SCREEN..........BELL..........SPRAY
..........BRUSH..........WALL..........SMART


(Possible) Answers:

1. drivenSNOWwhiteCHRISTMAScardSHARKtank
2. doubleCROSSwordPLAYareaCODE breaker
3. bigEASYstreetSMARTmoneyTREEsurgeon
4. absolutePOWERlunchCOUNTERpointGUARDtower 
5)
lightTOUCHscreenDOORbellPEPPERspray
PAINTbrushFIREwallSTREETsmart

LINKAGES
NY Times Crossword - April 3, 1988
June A. Boggs  (#1-4)

Can you supply the missing links below so that the linking word completes a word or phrase starting with the word on its left, and begins a word or phrase ending with the word on its right? (Ignore word spacing and hyphens.)

For example, given the clue
FALSE..........OVER..........GAME..........AHEAD,
a possible answer would be
falseSTARToverBOARDgamePLANahead

1. FEATHER..........POST..........KEY..........GANG
2. LETTER..........LIGHT..........FLY..........GOWN
3. GAME..........CASE..........HORSE..........TREE
4. STRING..........BAG..........DREAM..........PEACE
5. WHITE..........BOX..........CULTURE..........WAVE

Answers:

1. featherBEDpostMASTERkeyCHAINgang
2. letterHEADlightHOUSEflyBALLgown
3. gameSHOWcaseWORKhorseSHOEtree
4. stringBEANbagPIPEdreamWORLDpeace
5. whiteGLOVEboxCARcultureSHOCKwave

 ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER III

Credit: Idea - LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick
AROUND ON THE LINKS II

Can you supply the missing links below so that the linking word completes a word or phrase starting with the word on its left, and begins a word or phrase ending with the word on its right? (Ignore word spacing and hyphens.)

For example, given the clue:
FALSE..........OVER..........GAME..........AHEAD,
a possible answer would be:
falseSTARToverBOARDgamePLANahead

1. HORSE..........OFF..........WORK..........LOOK
2. ROUND..........FACE..........BEAT..........GAP
3. LIVING..........SERVICE..........BREAK..........SHED
4. HOUR..........WARE..........KEY..........WORTHY
5. CELL.....HEAD.....FAMILY.....HOUSE.....WALL
6. CARBON.....CAT.....CENTER.....CASE.....CIRCUIT

(Possible) Answers:

1. horsePLAYoffHANDworkOUTlook 
2. roundABOUTfaceDOWNbeatGENERATIONgap
3. livingROOMserviceSTATIONbreakWATERshed 
4. hourGLASSwareHOUSEkeyNOTEworthy
5. cellBLOCKheadFIRSTfamilyTREEhouseFIREwall
6) carbonCOPYcatCALLcenterCOURTcaseCLOSEDcircuit


 

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER II
  
Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick  (#1-4)
AROUND ON THE LINKS I

Can you supply the missing links below so that the linking word completes a word or phrase starting with the word on its  left and begins a word or phrase ending with the word on its right? (Ignore word spacing and hyphens.)

For example, given the clue:
FALSE..........OVER..........GAME..........AHEAD,
a possible answer would be:
falseSTARToverBOARDgamePLANahead

1. LOOK..........RED..........BED..........OUT
2. PIECE..........HORSE..........OFF..........BOARD
3. KEY..........WALL..........BACK..........BREAKING
4. BONE..........RUN..........LAY..........BOOK
5. FARM..........SOME..........LANGUAGE
6. PAPER..........LILY..........NOISE
7. HEAD..........POST..........POWER..........DANCING
8. TABLE..........ELBOW..........MONKEY..........PARK
9. LETTER..........PITCH..........HORSE..........TAXES
10. QUICK..........PAPER..........LADY..........BEAR

(Possible) Answers:

1. lookSEEredHOTbedTIMEout
2. pieceWORKhorseBACKoffBASEboard
3. keySTONEwallPAPERbackGROUNDbreaking
4. boneDRYrunOVERlayOVERbook
5. farmHANDsomeBODYlanguage
6. paperTIGERlilyWHITEnoise
7. headLAMPpostMANpowerLINEdancing 
8. tableTENNISelbowGREASEmonkeyBUSINESSpark
9. letterPERFECTpitchDARKhorsePROPERTYtaxes 
10. quickSANDpaperBAGladyBUGbear

ONE WORD LEADS TO ANOTHER I

Credit: NY Times Crossword
March 19, 2000

Greg Staples
WORD TAG

Given the clue words SIDESTEP _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ WATERFALL, the words BACK and GROUND could be inserted between them so that you would have the words or phrases SIDESTEP, STEP BACK, BACKGROUND, GROUND WATER and WATERFALL. Each clue will begin with the last word or phrase of the previous clue - going full circle back to SIDESTEP. The missing words are either two-word phrases or compound words.

1. SIDESTEP _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ WATERFALL

2. WATERFALL _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ BOOK CLUB

3. BOOK CLUB _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ ROOM SERVICE

4. ROOM SERVICE _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ TRICK KNEE

5. TRICK KNEE _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ DRY CLEAN

6. DRY CLEAN _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ORDER FORM

7. ORDER FORM _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ LINE DANCE

8. LINE DANCE _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ TIME MACHINE

9. TIME MACHINE _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ SEAT BELT

10. SEAT BELT _ _ _ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _ SIDESTEP

HINTS:

The first word of the missing phrase, or the first half of the missing compound words are:

2. SHORT

3. HOUSE

4. CHARGE

5. DEEP

6. UP

7. LETTER

8. STEP

9. SHOP

10. BUCKLE

Answers:

2. SHORT STORY

3. HOUSEGUEST

4. CHARGE CARD

5. DEEP FREEZE

6. UPSTANDING

7. LETTERHEAD

8. STEPFATHER

9. SHOP WINDOW

10. BUCKLE DOWN