Featured word ladder
Head to Tail word ladder
The endpoints feel close in meaning and far apart in spelling. Build a four-rung bridge from HEAD to TAIL, use a hint only when you want a nudge, and compare your route with one verified shortest solution.
- Format
- Word ladder
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Best for
- Word-ladder solvers
Play the fixed puzzle
Build the four missing rungs
Your progress stays in this page only. Reload whenever you want a clean replay.
Change one letter to begin.
Puzzle complete. The answer and construction notes are still available below.
Rules
What counts as a solve
- Fill all four rungs between HEAD and TAIL.
- Change exactly one letter at each move.
- Keep the other three letters in their positions.
- Every rung must be in Puzzled’s reviewed four-letter dictionary.
Behind the puzzle
How this one was built
A fixed length with open choices
The reference path uses five one-letter moves, which is shortest in the reviewed graph. Play still accepts a different valid route when it reaches TAIL in the same four displayed rungs.
Meaning does not drive the mechanics
HEAD and TAIL suggest opposites, but each move is judged only by spelling and dictionary membership. The semantic relationship makes the endpoints memorable without changing the rule.
Reveal the verified answer
One shortest route
- HEAD
- HEAL
- TEAL
- TELL
- TALL
- TAIL
More training and play
Carry this puzzle form into a new challenge
Use the matching strategy guide, or play today’s version of the same puzzle form.