Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-01-21: HANDS → KINGS

Date: 2026-01-21

HANDS → KINGS

Difficulty: Medium Goal Steps: 6 5 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects HANDS to KINGS in 6 steps. This 5-letter word puzzle challenges your vocabulary and logic skills. Can you find the shortest path?

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Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1 HANDS → LANDS

Change the 1st letter H to L, turning HANDS into LANDS.

Step 2 LANDS → LANES

Change the 4th letter D to E, turning LANDS into LANES.

Step 3 LANES → LINES

Change the 2nd letter A to I, turning LANES into LINES.

Step 4 LINES → WINES

Change the 1st letter L to W, turning LINES into WINES.

Step 5 WINES → WINGS

Change the 4th letter E to G, turning WINES into WINGS.

Step 6 WINGS → KINGS

Change the 1st letter W to K, turning WINGS into KINGS.

Puzzle Insights

Change positions: pos 1: 3, pos 2: 1, pos 4: 2. Most-changed position: 1 (3).

Change sequence: 1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 1.

Letter mix: V→V 1, V→C 1, C→V 1, C→C 3.

Word stats: 7 words, 11 unique letters. Start/target share 2 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both HANDS and KINGS first. This ladder needs 6 moves, and the endpoints already share 2 letter positions—so a useful move does not always look immediately closer to the target.

The recorded route changes position 1 from H to L first, but saves position 1 (W to K) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, LINES matches 3 target positions. On your replay, explain why that bridge gives you more options than a random swap; this path changes position 1 most often.

Practice prompt: choose two unfamiliar bridge words, check their definitions, and write a short sentence for each. Then replay HANDS to KINGS without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.