DOUBLE DUTY  XXIX

The blanks in each clue  below can be filled in with a word which can follow the word on the left and precede the word on the right. The number of blanks indicates the number of letters in the missing word. All the missing words will have something in common.

1. COMEDY _ _ _ _ CAR
2. MIDDLE _ _ _ _ _ CLOWN
3. RAIN _ _ _ _ _ COVER
4. COLD _ _ _ _ COW
5. CROSS _ _ _ _ CLUB
6. OCEAN _ _ _ _ _ _ CONTROL
7. CABIN _ _ _ _ CUT
8. CRASH _ _ _ _ _ _ CORRECTION

HINTS:
The first letters are:
1. C
2. C
3. C
4. C
5. C
6. C
7. C
8. C

Answers:

1. comedyCLUBcar
2. middleCLASSclown
3. rainCLOUDcover
4. coldCASHcow
5. crossCOUNTRYclub
6. ocean CRUISEcontrol
7. cabinCREWcut
8. crashCOURSEcorrection

All the missing words start with C.
All three words in #1, 4, 5, 7, and 8 start with C.

Credit: Will Shortz
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle 
October 4, 2009