1. What do the following four words have in common?

 

HUMAN

GHOST

PLAY

LAST 

2. What do the following four words have in common?

MOVER

NOISE

SALES

PIERCE

Answers:

 

1. Each word can be followed by one of four homophones:

 

HUMAN RIGHTS

GHOST WRITES

PLAYWRIGHTS

LAST RITES

 

2. Changing one letter in each word will give a U.S. state capital:

 

MOVER - DOVER

NOISE - BOISE

SALES - SALEM

PIERCE - PIERRE

 

Credits:

 

1: Drew Schmenner

    WSJ Crossword 12/14/20

2: Will Shortz

    NPR Weekly Sunday Puzzle 12/20/20