1. What do the following words have in common?

RINGS

ITCH

ROLL

RAY

OUT

ALL

2. What do the following words have in common?

AIR

FAN

BULK

JUNK

3. What do the following rhyming words have in common?

SAY

HAY

DAY

RAY

BAY

PAY

TRAY

PRAY

HINTS:

1. Each word can be preceded by the same two letters.

2. Each clue can be followed by the same word.

3. It has to do with the vowel sound of each word.

Answers:

1. Each word can be preceded by ST.

STRINGS/STITCH/STROLL/STRAY/STOUT/STALL

(Credit: NY Times Crossword - Apr. 18, 2004

Richard Chisholm - CANONIZED)

2. Each word can be followed by MAIL.

3. Changing the long A vowel sound of each clue to long I, and adjusting for spelling, will give new words.

SIGH/HI(GH)/DI(E)/RYE/BY(E)BUY/PI(E)/TRY/PRY

(Credit: NY Times Crossword - May 4, 2003

Tyler Hinman - LONG I-LAND)