MENTAL BLOCKS

GAMES/World of Puzzles

August, 2021

Frederic H. Kock

 

Use only the three letters in the top row of each stack to complete words in the other six or seven rows. All of the letters in the top row must be used at least once in every other row.  

 

1.            SUN

           _ _ O _ T 

         F _ _ G _ _

        _ _ _ _ _ A L

      _ T _ _ _ I _ G

      _ _ I _ A _C E

    _ O _ _ D L E _ _

 

**********************

 

 2.            TAN

             S _ I _ _ 

         I _ S _ _ _ _

       H E _ R _ E _ 

       _ _ _ E _ _ _

      _ _ _ O _ _ _ E

     I _ I _ E R _ _ _

     E _ _ E R _ _ I _

 

Answers:

 

1.        SUN

        SNOUT

      FUNGUS

     UNUSUAL

    STUNNING

    NUISANCE 

   SOUNDLESS 

 

2.      TAN 

       SAINT

    INSTANT

   HEARTEN

   ANTENNA

  ANNOTATE

 ENTERTAIN

  ITINERANT 

  

WORD PYRAMID VI
Credit: GAMES Magazine
Dec/Jan 1990

In this word pyramid, each answer word will contain all the letters of the answer above it plus one. To solve, add a new letter at each level and anagram the letters to correspond to one of the clues found - in random order - beneath the pyramid.
            _    
          _ _
        _ _ _
      _ _ _ _
     _ _ _ _ _
   _ _ _ _ _ _
  _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Hard rock used in buildings
Partner of "feather" and "nicotine"
Talk in a loud, excited way
Certain geometric figures
Back part of the eye
Common article
Most incensed
"Hand" preceder, perhaps
The Orient Express, for one

Answers:

          A
         AT
       TAR
      RANT
     TRAIN
    RETINA
  GRANITE
 ANGRIEST
TRIANGLES 






  

WORD PYRAMID V
Credit: GAMES Magazine
July, 1984
Will Shortz

Each of the ten answer words  in the pyramid will contain all the letters of the answer above it - plus one. To solve, add a new letter at each level and anagram the letters to correspond to one of the clues found - in random order - beneath the pyramid.

            _
          _ _
        _ _ _
      _ _ _ _
    _ _ _ _ _
    _ _ _ _ _ _
   _ _ _ _ _ _ _
  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Specialist doctor
______ participle
Most appropriate
Article
Sudden outpouring
Kind of tube
______ once (immediately)
Oolong vessels
Eavesdropping device
Irish produce

Answer:

         A
        AT
       TAP
      PAST
     SPATE
    APTEST
   TEAPOTS
  POTATOES
 OSTEOPATH
TOOTHPASTE  

WORD PYRAMID IV
Credit: GAMES Magazine
June, 1983
Merl Reagle

Each answer in the pyramid will contain all the letters of the previous answer plus one. To solve, add a new letter at each level and anagram the letters to correspond to one of the clues found beneath the pyramid.

              _
            _ _
          _ _ _
        _ _ _ _
       _ _ _ _ _
      _ _ _ _ _ _
     _ _ _ _ _ _ _
    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
   _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Fish that's packed in a can
Headphones cover them
Trap
Fixed, as a lopsided picture
Article
Used a filter
Like Mr. Magoo
Gotten out of bed
Cause to lose hope
While
They keep you in custody
Ocean

Answers:

            A
           AS
          SEA
         EARS
        SNARE
      ARISEN
     SARDINE
    STRAINED
   DETAINERS
  DISHEARTEN
 NEARSIGHTED
STRAIGHTENED

WORD PYRAMID III
Credit: GAMES Magazine
June, 1983
Merl Reagle

Each answer word in the pyramid will contain all the letters of the previous answer plus one. To solve, add a new letter at each level and anagram the letters to correspond to one of the clues found beneath the pyramid.

                _
              _ _
            _ _ _
           _ _ _ _
         _ _ _ _ _
        _ _ _ _ _ _
      _ _ _ _ _ _ _
    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
   _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

"The _____ is cast"
Added in the middle
Slyly malicious
Disclaims, as responsibility
Obama, for example
Personal pronoun
Predetermine, as by fate
Walker
Reckless urgency
_____ of March
Pretended to be someone else
Superego's counterpart

Answers:

              I 
             ID
           DIE
          IDES
        SNIDE
       DENIES
      DESTINE
     INSERTED
    PRESIDENT
  PEDESTRIAN
 DESPERATION
IMPERSONATED

MENTAL BLOCKS IX
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Sept. 2004
Shawn Kennedy

In each stack of blocks below, use the three-letter word in the top row to complete the rows beneath it. Each letter in the top row must be used at least once in each of the other rows of the stack, and no additional letters may be used. All answers are common words.

1)
                NUT
           S _ _ _ _
          _ A _ _ _
          I _ _ _ I _
        M _ _ A _ _
       _ _ R _ O _ _
      _ _ _ R I E _ _
     _ _ B _ _ _ O _

2)
                               PET
                           _ _ _ _ Y
                          _ _ _ I _ _
                         _ OU _ _ _
                       _ ARA _ _ _
                      _ R _ _ _ O _
                     A _ _ _ _ I _ _
                   _ _ M _ _ RA _ _

Answers:

1)
                             NUT
                          STUNT
                          TAUNT
                          INTUIT
                         MUTANT
                       TURNOUT
                      NUTRIENT
                     UNBUTTON

2)
                                                   PET
                                                PETTY
                                               PETITE
                                              TOUPEE
                                             PARAPET
                                             TREETOP
                                            APPETITE
                                          TEMPERATE
                      

MENTAL BLOCKS VIII
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Sept. 2004
Shawn Kennedy

In each stack of blocks below, use the three-letter word in the top row to complete the rows beneath it. Each letter in the top row must be used at least once in each of the other rows of the stack, and no additional letters may be used. All answers are common words.

1)
               OLD
           F _ _ _ _
            _ _ I _ Y
            _ _ _ _ Y
           _ _ _ _ _ P
           _ _ _ _ _ E
         _ E _ T _ I _
      C _ _ U _ _ ESS

2)
                               AWE
                           _ _ _ V _
                           _ _ _ R _
                          _ _ _ S _ L
                          S _ _ S _ _
                        S _ _ _ _ _ D
                       R _ _ _ _ K _ N
                       _ _ T _ R  _ _ Y

Answers:

1)
                                     OLD
                                  FLOOD
                                  DOILY
                                 ODDLY
                               DOLLOP
                               DOODLE
                               DELTOID
                            CLOUDLESS

2)
                                     AWE
                                  WEAVE
                                  AWARE
                                 WEASEL
                                 SEESAW
                                SEAWEED
                               REAWAKEN
                               WATERWAY
                   

WORD PYRAMID II
Credit: GAMES Magazine
Sept. 2006
N. M. Meyer

Find a three letter word to fill in the top row of the pyramid such that you can then use each letter of that word once in each subsequent row (in any order) to complete the pyramid.

1)
                  _ _ _
                  _ _ _ G
              B _ _ _ T
            H _ _ TE _
           _ E _ NIO _
           _ _ IVE_ SE

2)
                            _ _ _
                          _ O _ _
                         _ AP _ _
                        _ IDD _ _
                     R _ A _ IS _
                   R _ SE _ B _ E

Answers:

1)
                        RUN
                      RUNG
                     BURNT
                    HUNTER
                   REUNION
                  UNIVERSE

2)
                                           ELM
                                         MOLE
                                        MAPLE
                                       MIDDLE
                                      REALISM
                                     RESEMBLE

MENTAL BLOCKS VII
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Sept. 2004
Shawn Kennedy

Use only the three letters in the top row of each stack to complete the words in the other rows. Each of the three letters must be used at least once in every row.

1)
                  DUO
               _ _ T _ _
             _ ET _ _ R
           AR _ _ _ _ S
          _ _ T _ _ _ RS
          _ _ TB _ _ N _

2)
                                               LAB
                                           _ _ N _ _
                                          _ _ _ _ _ D
                                          D _ _ _ _ E
                                         M _ I _ _ _ G
                                         W _ _ _ _ _ Y
                                        _ _ SE _ _ _ _
                                       _ I _ _ _ O _ RD

Answers:

1)
                      DUO
                  OUTDO
                 DETOUR
               ARDUOUS
             OUTDOORS
             OUTBOUND

2)
                                                   LAB
                                                BANAL
                                               BALLAD
                                               DABBLE
                                              MAILBAG
                                              WALLABY
                                              BASEBALL
                                             BILLBOARD
              

WORD PYRAMID I
Credit: GAMES Magazine
May 2001

In this variation of the traditional mental block, you must find a three-letter word to fill in the top line of the pyramid so that you can then use each letter of that word once in each subsequent line (in any order) to complete the pyramid.

              _ _ _
           _ O _ _
         _ _ N _ H
        _ O _ _ ON
       O _ TO _ _ S
      S _ R _ _ LES

Answer:

The three-letter word is CUP:

                            CUP
                          COUP
                        PUNCH
                      COUPON
                     OCTOPUS
                    SCRUPLES

MENTAL BLOCKS VI
Credit: GAMES Magazine
November, 1982
Frederic H. Kock

Use only the three letters in the top row of each stack to complete the words in the other rows. Each of the three letters must be used at least once in every row.

1)
                      LOB
                   _ _ _ _ Y
                   _ _ _ _ M
                  _ _ _ _ NG
                 _ A _ _ _ _ N
               _ _ M _ SHE _ _
               H _ _ G _ _ _ IN
              _ _ _ ND _ GG _ E

2)
                                               NET
                                           _ _ _ S _
                                          KI _ _ _ _
                                         D _ _ O _ _
                                        D _ _ _ _ _ _
                                       I _ _ OC _ _ _
                                      _ _ _ _ M _ _ _
                                    _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ H

Answers:

1)
                       LOB
                    LOBBY
                   BLOOM
                  OBLONG
                 BALLOON
              BOMBSHELL
              HOBGOBLIN
            BOONDOGGLE 

2)
                                                         NET
                                                      TENSE
                                                     KITTEN
                                                    DENOTE
                                                   DETENTE
                                                  INNOCENT
                                                 TENEMENT
                                                NINETEENTH

MENTAL BLOCKS V
Credit: GAMES Magazine
November, 1982
Frederic H. Kock

Use only the three letters in the top row of each stack to complete the words in the other rows. Each of the three letters must be used at least once in every row.

1)
                     SET
                 _ _ _ W _
               D _ _ _ R _               
               _ _ _ _ H _               
               _ _ _ _ _ M
              D _ _ _ _ R _
            R _ _ _ L _ _ _
        B _ _ _ _ _ LL _ R
       _ _ AM _ _ R _ _ _

2)
                                               ACE
                                            _ _ _ S _
                                          _ _ N _ _ L
                                          _ _ _ _ D _
                                         D _ _ _ D _
                                        _ _ D _ N _ _
                                       _ _ _ D _ MI _
                                      _ L _ G _ N _ _
                                      PI _ _ _ M _ _ L
                                     _ _ _ _ L _ R _ T _

Answers:

1)
                     SET
                  STEWS
                 DESERT
                TEETHE                            
                ESTEEM               
               DESSERT
              RESTLESS
             BESTSELLER
             SEAMSTRESS 

2)
                                                   ACE 
                                                 CEASE
                                                CANCEL
                                               ACCEDE
                                               DECADE
                                             CADENCE
                                            ACADEMIC
                                            ELEGANCE
                                           PIECEMEAL
                                          ACCELERATE

MENTAL BLOCKS IV
Credit: GAMES Magazine
January, 1984
Frederic H. Kock

Use only the three letters in the top row of each stack to complete the words in the other rows. Each of the three letters must be used at least once in every row.

1)
               NAG
             _ _ _ I _
           I _ U _ _ _
           _ _ E _ D _
          _ _ LL _ _ T
         _ _ _ _ R _ M
        PL _ _ _ E _ T
       L _ _ _ U _ _ E

2)
                        WON
                    S _ _ _ _
                   _ I _ _ _ _
                   _ _ _ LE _
                 U _ K _ _ _ _
                S _ _ _ PL _ _
               D _ _ _ T _ _ _
              C _ TT _ _ _ _ _ D

Answers:

1)
                   NAG
                AGAIN
              IGUANA
             AGENDA
            GALLANT
          ANAGRAM
          PLANGENT
         LANGUAGE

2) 
                            WON
                         SWOON
                       WINNOW
                       WOOLEN
                     UNKNOWN
                    SNOWPLOW
                   DOWNTOWN
                COTTONWOOD

MENTAL BLOCKS III
Credit: GAMES Magazine
January, 1984
Frederic H. Kock

Use only the three letters in the top row of each stack to complete the words in the other rows. Each of the three letters must be used at least once in every row.

1)
               TIP
            _ N E _ _
          S _ _ R _ _
          _ _ _ _ O _
      _ M _ R _ N _
     _ E _ _ _ _ O N
     A _ _ E _ _ _ E
 O _ _ _ M _ S _ _ C

2)
                      BET
                   _ _ S _ _
                 _ R _ _ L _
                 _ _ _ _ L _
               _ _ _ W _ _ N
             F _ _ _ L _ S _
             _ M _ I _ _ _ R
          _ _ _ _ _ R M _ N T

Answers:

1)
                 TIP
              INEPT
             SPIRIT
            TIPTOP
          IMPRINT
         PETITION
        APPETITE
      OPTIMISTIC

2)
                           BET
                        BESET
                      TREBLE
                      BEETLE
                    BETWEEN
                   FEEBLEST
                  EMBITTER
               BETTERMENT
    

MENTAL BLOCKS II
Credit: GAMES Magazine
Sept/Oct 1981
Frederic H. Kock

Use only the three letters in the top row of each stack to complete the words in the other rows. Each of the three letters must be used at least once in every row.

1)
              BAT
           _ _ _ O _
          R _ _ _ I _
         H _ _ I _ _ _
        _ _ _ H _ U _
       _ _ _ U L _ _ E
      D E _ _ _ _ _ L E

2)
                HIT
            _ _ _ G _
          S _ _ _ C _
        _ N _ _ B _ _
      C _ _ _ C _ A _
     _ _ G _ L _ G _ _
     _ _ _ R _  _ E _ _

3)
                  OUT
               _ _ _ _ R
            B _ _ _ _ N
         C _ N _ _ _ R
        R _ _ L E _ _ E
     A _ _ _ M A _ _ N
     _ _ M _ L _ _ _ _ S

Answers:

1)

             BAT
          ABBOT
         RABBIT
        HABITAT
       BATHTUB
      TABULATE 
     DEBATABLE

2)
                 HIT
              THIGH
             STITCH
             INHIBIT
          CHITCHAT
         HIGHLIGHT
         THIRTIETH

3)
                   OUT
                TUTOR
               BUTTON
             CONTOUR
            ROULETTE
         AUTOMATON
         TUMULTUOUS

 

MENTAL BLOCKS I
Credit: GAMES Magazine
May/June, 1980
Frederic H. Kock

Use only the three letters in the top row of each stack to complete the words in the other rows. Each of the three letters must be used at least once in every row.

1)
               SUN
           _ _ O _ _
         F _ _G _ _
        _ _ _ _ _ AL
      _ T _ _ _ I _ G
      _ _ I _ A _ C E

2)
                  TAN
               S _ I _ _
             I _ S _ _ _ _
           H E  _ R _ E _
            _ _ _ E _ _ _
           _ _ _ O _ _ _ E
          E _ _ E R _ _ I _

Answers:

1)
             SUN
          SNOUT
        FUNGUS
       UNUSUAL
      STUNNING
      NUISANCE

2)
                 TAN
               SAINT
            INSTANT
           HEARTEN
           ANTENNA
          ANNOTATE
          ENTERTAIN