ON THE DOUBLE II

GAMES/World of Puzzles

Holiday, 2026

Todd Kreisman (1-8)

 

The answer to each of the clues below is a word with two pairs of double letters (like ACCESS or COMMISSION). As a hint, the two repeated letters are given - in the order in which they appear. 

 

1. Neutral paint color (G, L) 

2. Soccer, to some (O, L)

3. Type of warfare (R, L)

4. Folksingers' jamboree (O, N)

5. Popeye's distinctive marking (T, O)

6. Make self-conscious (R, S)

7. Tape deck cartridge ( S, T)

8. Trigger autocorrect, maybe (S, L)

9. Hostile, forceful (G, S)

10. Orchestra woodwind (S, O)

11. You sleep on it (T, S)

12. One thousand years (L, N) 

 

Answers:

 

1. EGGSHELL

2. FOOTBALL

3. GUERRILLA

4. HOOTENANNY

5. TATTOO

6. EMBARRASS

7. CASSETTE

8. MISSPELL

9. AGGRESSIVE

10. BASSOON

11. MATTRESS

12. MILLENNIUM  

GAMES/World of Puzzles

December, 2026

Scott Erdman 

 

Each clue has two parts, divided by a slash. After you solve the first half, replace the first letter of the answer word with the next letter in the alphabet to solve the second half.

 

For example: Buy and ____ / Show and ____

                                     SELL                  TELL

 

1. Sweetie / Charged particle

2. Bonkers / Inning's sextet

3. Maine crustacean / Al Capone, e.g.

4. ____ ball / ____ Club

5. Like some glass / Bozo

6. Quieting a squeak / Pier support

7. Female relative / Batter's sacrifice play

8. Nickname for Manuel / Mary Poppins, e.g.

9. Petroleum ____ / ____ green

10. Canine's neckwear / Buck

11. Poetic foot / Door or window part

12. Bagpiper's wear / Bouncy tune

13. Grimace / Fully developed

14. Puts on / Long stretches of time 

15. Eden or Secret /  Solidify 

 

Answers:

 

1. HON /  ION

2. NUTS /  OUTS

3. LOBSTER / MOBSTER

4. EIGHT / FIGHT

5. BLOWN / CLOWN

6. OILING /  PILING

7. AUNT / BUNT

8. MANNY / NANNY

9. JELLY / KELLY

10. COLLAR / DOLLAR

11. IAMB / JAMB

12. KILT / LILT

13. FROWN / GROWN

14. DONS / EONS

15. GARDEN / HARDEN  

GAMES/World of Puzzles

December, 2025

John Dryer 

 

Identify the common property of the following words. Hint: The words are in chronological order based on an historical event. 

 

OCCLUDE

PARENT

UNJUST

ENGAGE

PTERODACTYL

ENIGMA

GUMDROP

SCHNITZEL

DOWNHILL

EVACUEE

PENNY

PIQUANCY

WRITTEN 

 

MORE HINTS:

1. There are 13 words.

2. It has to do with two letters in each word. 

 

Answer:

 

Each word contains the postal code for one of the 13 original U.S. states - listed in the order in which they ratified the Constitution:

 

occluDE

PArent

uNJust

enGAge

pterodaCTyl

enigMA

guMDrop

SCnitzel

dowNHill

eVAcuee

penNY

piquaNCy

wRItten 

 

 

 

MISSING LINKS CCLXVIII

Each group below contains a Missing Link - that is, its members have something in common, obvious or not. For example, RIVERS, NOSES, & VIOLINS can all have BRIDGES.

1. Musket..........Soul..........Type A 

2. Doubt..........Smoking..........Exit

3. Torah..........Senses..........Vowels 

4. Go.......Envy.......Money.......Energy

5. Royal..........Macaroni..........Emperor

6. Fishing..........Property..........Chorus

7. Free..........Boarding..........Forward

8. Cars.......Cobras.......Cities.......Parkas 

9. Guitar........Bag........Line........Mattress

10. Africa.....South America.....Bullfighters 

11. Barber.....Music box.....Beehive.....Rooster 

 

Answers:

 

1. Homophones for world capitals*

2. Words commonly preceded by NO

3. Sets of fives**

4. Words associated with GREEN

5. Types of penguins

6. Line

7. Pass

8. Things that have hoods

9. Air

10. They have capes

11. They have combs***

 

*Muscat (Oman), Seoul, Taipei

**The Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament.

***The plucked metallic device in a music box is called a comb.

 

Credits:
Ken Jennings

Kennections

 

 

NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle

January 25, 2026

Will Shortz 

 

Answer the first clue and insert the word ALL somewhere into it to answer the second clue. 

For example: Opposite of good and a romantic song 

                       BAD - BALLAD

 

1. Exam and having the greatest height

 

2. To bathe standing up and not as deep

 

3. What bees do and playing for time

 

4. Descendant and a green onion

 

5. Sweeper's tool and a locale in the game of Clue

 

6. Vast wooded areas and prevents from happening 

 

7. Attempt in basketball and an onion used in cooking

 

8. Overhead structure supporting a crane and courage displayed in battle

 

9. Something unexpected and beneficial and an air-filled item attached to a string 

 

Answers:

 

1. TEST - TALLEST

2. SHOWER - SHALLOWER

3. STING - STALLING

4. SCION - SCALLION

5. BROOM - BALLROOM

6. FORESTS - FORESTALLS

7. SHOT - SHALLOT

8. GANTRY - GALLANTRY

9. BOON - BALLOON  

 

 

 

ADD A LETTER - GET A NEW WORD CCCII

Add the designated letter to each word and re-arrange the letters to get a new word.

1. TIDE + P 

2. AIDE+ U

3. VALE + H 

4. AISLE + R

5. YEAST + F

6. EBONY + D

7. READY + R

8. MANIC + E

9. STRAIN + H

10. REPRESENT + I  

 

HINTS:
First letters of the new words:

1. T

2. A

3. H

4. S

5. S

6. B

7. D

8. C or A

9. T

10. E

 

Answers:

 

1. TEPID

2. ADIEU

3. HALVE 

4. SERIAL

5. SAFETY

6. BEYOND

7. DREARY

8. CINEMA or  ANEMIC

9. TARNISH

10. ENTERPRISE  

 

SPELLING BEE II

 

NY Times Puzzle Mania

Sam Ezersky

 

          L

A V E H Y I  

 

Using the L in both words, can you find a 4-letter word and a 6-letter word that are counterparts in nature? The letters may be used as often as necessary. Can you find a pangram - a 7-letter word using all seven letters once each?

 

Answers:

 

HILL - VALLEY

HEAVILY