Free printable word ladder puzzles
Start at the bottom word and climb to the word at the top. Change one letter on each rung, and every rung has to be a real word. Par is the fewest moves it can be done in.
Easy: 3-letter words, 3 moves
#1
TEN
MAD
par 3
#2
NOT
HAS
par 3
#3
ZIP
RUG
par 3
#4
HOW
RIB
par 3
#5
INN
TOO
par 3
#6
HAY
PET
par 3
#7
BIN
RAY
par 3
#8
MAN
PIE
par 3
#9
GAP
MET
par 3
#10
BIG
FAR
par 3
Medium: 4-letter words, 4 moves
#11
BARS
SAME
par 4
#12
PALE
SINS
par 4
#13
MART
COPS
par 4
#14
MILK
MARS
par 4
#15
WIRE
CAPS
par 4
#16
FIRM
MILD
par 4
#17
DUCK
LINE
par 4
#18
MASS
FAME
par 4
#19
DUTY
TOLL
par 4
#20
TOOL
SOCK
par 4
Hard: 5-letter words, 4 moves
#21
FACED
BACKS
par 4
#22
NAMED
RATES
par 4
#23
FILMS
WORKS
par 4
#24
RIDES
POLES
par 4
#25
POSTS
LIVES
par 4
#26
MALLS
PINES
par 4
#27
LINER
FARES
par 4
#28
WHOSE
LEASE
par 4
#29
MOVES
LITER
par 4
#30
CITES
AIDED
par 4
Answers
Most puzzles have more than one way up. Any climb that reaches the top in par counts.
Easy
- MAD → MAN → TAN → TEN
- HAS → HAT → HOT → NOT
- RUG → RIG → RIP → ZIP
- RIB → ROB → ROW → HOW
- TOO → TON → ION → INN
- PET → PAT → HAT → HAY
- RAY → BAY → BAN → BIN
- PIE → PIN → PAN → MAN
- MET → MAT → MAP → GAP
- FAR → BAR → BAG → BIG
Medium
- SAME → CAME → CARE → BARE → BARS
- SINS → PINS → PINE → PILE → PALE
- COPS → CAPS → CARS → MARS → MART
- MARS → MARE → MALE → MILE → MILK
- CAPS → CARS → CARE → WARE → WIRE
- MILD → MILE → FILE → FIRE → FIRM
- LINE → LINK → LICK → LUCK → DUCK
- FAME → FARE → MARE → MARS → MASS
- TOLL → DOLL → DULL → DULY → DUTY
- SOCK → LOCK → LOOK → TOOK → TOOL
Hard
- BACKS → RACKS → RACES → FACES → FACED
- RATES → GATES → GAMES → NAMES → NAMED
- WORKS → WORMS → FORMS → FIRMS → FILMS
- POLES → ROLES → ROSES → RISES → RIDES
- LIVES → LOVES → LOSES → POSES → POSTS
- PINES → MINES → MILES → MILLS → MALLS
- FARES → FIRES → FINES → LINES → LINER
- LEASE → CEASE → CHASE → CHOSE → WHOSE
- LITER → LIVER → LIVES → LOVES → MOVES
- AIDED → SIDED → SIDES → SITES → CITES