Word Ladder Game & Puzzle Maker
Turn one English word into another by changing exactly one letter at a time. Every step must be a real word in our curated game bank. Play a ready-made ladder, choose a supported start and finish word, or print a worksheet and answer route.
Build the word ladder
- CAT
Change one letter to make a new word.
Word Ladder Worksheet
Change one letter at a time from START to TARGET. Use a valid word for each rung.
The shortest solution takes 3 one-letter changes.
- CAT — START
- ______________
- ______________
- DOG — TARGET
Word Ladder — Shortest Answer Route
CAT → COT → DOT → DOG
Other valid routes may exist; this is one shortest route within Pathgrid's curated word bank.
Free online word ladder puzzles and printable worksheets
What is a word ladder game?
A word ladder connects a starting word to a target word through intermediate English words. Each move changes exactly one letter, while keeping the word length fixed. For example, CAT becomes COT, then DOT, then DOG.
Can I make my own word ladder puzzle?
Yes, within our curated word bank. Enter a 3-, 4- or 5-letter starting word and another word of the same length. If the words are in the bank and a route exists, Make word ladder starts an interactive puzzle. For unrestricted English word pairs, use a full dictionary-based word ladder solver instead.
Can I print a word ladder worksheet and answer key?
Yes. Select Print puzzle + answer. The printable view provides a blank word ladder worksheet, followed by a separate answer sheet showing one shortest route. Choose Save as PDF in your browser if you prefer a file.
Does a hint give away the whole answer?
No. Next-word hint only suggests one step on a shortest route from your current word. You can continue playing yourself, undo a step or restart.
Can I play Word Ladder on a phone or without downloading an app?
Yes. The game runs with a mobile keyboard and works in modern browsers with no account. The page needs to load initially; all word checks and hint calculations happen on your device.