TWO OUT OF THREE XVI

Anagram two of the three words in each clue to get a synonym for the third word. 

Ex. SLY, YEN, ASK

Ans. YEN + ASK = SNEAKY (sly)

Ex.. HINT, REAL, ACUTE

Ans. HINT + ACUTE = AUTHENTIC (real)

 

1. CART, FAIR, PLANE

2. CASE, TAPE, TEST

3. KIDS, RICH, LEND

4. NAIL, EDICT, SAME

5. SIZE, TUNA, MIDGE

6. SEND, TEEN, LOCATE 

 

HINTS:
One of the words to be anagrammed:

1. CART

2. CASE

3. RICH

4. NAIL

5. TUNA

6. SEND 

 

Answers:

 

1. CART + FAIR = AIRCRAFT (plane)

2. CASE + TEST = CASSETTE (tape)

3. RICH + LEND = CHILDREN (kids)

4. NAIL + EDICT = IDENTICAL (same)

5. TUNA + MIDGE = MAGNITUDE (size)

6. SEND +  LOCATE = ADOLESCENT (teen)

CRYPTO CLUES CCLIV

GAMES Magazine

June, 2015

Bob Stigger (1-4)

GAMES/World of Puzzles

August, 2026

Chris Crossman (5-6)

Fred Piscop (7-9)

Bob Stigger (10-11) 

 

1. A breakfast cereal prepared with ease

 

2. Computer ruse destroyed D.C. institution

 

3. Take on outspoken superior

 

4. Help some diabetics 

 

5. Zeus backed up canal

 

6. Confuses sudoku and crosswords

 

7. Had ambitions of changing diapers

 

8. Consequences of running wild at the farm

 

9. Coveted position, anyway you look at it 

 

10. Be faithful and split

 

11. Foot needs to be better adorned 

 

HINTS:

1-2. Anagrams

3. Homophone

4. Hidden word

5. Reversal

6. Homograph

7-8. Anagrams

9. Definition - palindrome

10. Contronym

11. Anagram 

 

Answers:

 

1. WHEATIES (with ease)

2. SUPREME COURT (computer ruse)

3. HIRE (higher)

4. ABET (diABETics)

5. SUEZ (zeus)

6. PUZZLES (two definitions)

7. ASPIRED (diapers)

8. AFTERMATH (at the farm)

9. TOP SPOT

10. CLEAVE (opposite meanings)

11. FESTOONED (foot needs)  

CHARADES IV

Ex.  Sitar piece + Bakery treat = Waif

Ans. RAGA + MUFFFIN = RAGAMUFFIN 

 

1. Hat + S,M, or L = Tip over 

 

2. Buddy + Assert = Idle talk

 

3. Act + Penny = Museum guide

 

4. Finish + Auricle = Cause to be liked

 

5. Future prune + Years = Feathers

 

6. The Odyssey, for one + Go in = Ground zero 

 

7. Clever humor + That woman = Shrivel up

 

8. Paper money + Only = Fine fabric

 

9. Change + Indigenous one =  A choice 

 

10. Pleasant + Shirt-go-with for men =  Social refinements

 

Answers:

 

1. CAP + SIZE = CAPSIZE

2. PAL + AVER = PALAVER 

3. DO + CENT = DOCENT

4. END + EAR = ENDEAR

5. PLUM + AGE = PLUMAGE

6. EPIC + ENTER = EPICENTER

7. WITH + HER = WITHER

8. CASH + MERE = CASHMERE

9. ALTER + NATIVE = ALTERNATIVE

10. NICE + TIES = NICETIES  

 

DROP A LETTER -GET A NEW WORD CXLVI

GAMES/World of Puzzles

August, 2026

FAMILY REUNIONS

Bob Stigger

 

Drop one letter from each word and re-arrange the remaining letters to get nine related words.

 

1. ACTOR

2. ASSAIL

3. OMELET

4. FACTUAL

5. ANCHORS

6. OATMEAL

7. UNMOVED

8. ASCERTAIN

9. CAMOUFLAGE  

 

HINTS:

First letters of the new words:

1. T

2. S

3. E

4. F

5. N

6. T

7. M

8. C

9. G

 

Answers:

 

1. TACO

2. SALSA

3. ELOTE

4. FLAUTA

5. NACHOS

6. TAMALE

7. MENUDO

8. CARNITAS

9. GUACAMOLE - - - Mexican food   

 TRIPLES XIII

In each compound word or two-word phrase below, the same word can follow the first word and precede the second word to form two other compound words or two-word phrases. What are the connecting words?

Ex. AIRLINE

Ans. SUPPLY (air supply / supply line)

Ex. BACK OFF

Ans. SPIN (backspin / spinoff)

 

1. COUNTRY ROAD

2. BREAK WATER

3. PIANO STOOL

4. DARK HAIR

5. OFFLOAD

6. SPITBALL

7. FIRE DOOR

8. STRAIGHT MAN

 

Answers:

 

1. SIDE

2. GROUND

3. BAR

4. HORSE

5. SPRING

6. FIRE

7. TRAP

8. LINE  

HETERONYMS

Many words in English change meaning when there is a change in stress or syllabication. These words are called stressonyms.

Ex. 1. Make fruits and vegetables

      2. Condense a legal agreement

      3. Introduce a gift

 

Ans. 1. Produce produce

         2. Contract a contract

         3. Present a present 

 

But a relatively few words in English change pronunciation when the meaning of the word changes- with no change in stress or syllabication. These words are called heteronyms.

 

Ex. Guide part of a pencil

Ans. Lead lead 

Ex. A rose and a river

Ans. Flower and flower 

 

Each clue below can be answered with heteronyms.

 

1. Eiffel and AAA

2. Peaceful bird plunged into the water 

3. Remain smeared pitch

4. Placing golf shots on the green

5. Accomplishes female deer

6. 1, 2, or 3 and less feeling 

7. Coiled an injury 

8. Coil the breeze 

9. Underground pipes and Betsy Ross

10. Rip and salty liquid from the eyes when crying 

 

Answers:

1. Tower and tower

2. Dove dove

3. Tarry tarry

4. Putting putting

5. Does does

6. Number number 

7. Wound a wound 

8. Wind the wind 

9. Sewer and sewer

10. Tear and tear 

 

 

 

 

 

GAMES/World of Puzzles

August, 2026

Edward Dermon 

 

Can you name a major U.S. city of seven letters whose first four letters are a word and whose last three letters are a word?

 

Hint:

The city begins with C.

 

Answer:

 

CHICAGO