Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-01-24: POLO → PENN

Date: 2026-01-24

POLO → PENN

Difficulty: Medium Goal Steps: 7 4 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects POLO to PENN in 7 steps. This 4-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 POLO → POLE

Change the 4th letter O to E, turning POLO into POLE.

Step 2 POLE → POPE

Change the 3rd letter L to P, turning POLE into POPE.

Step 3 POPE → PIPE

Change the 2nd letter O to I, turning POPE into PIPE.

Step 4 PIPE → PINE

Change the 3rd letter P to N, turning PIPE into PINE.

Step 5 PINE → PINS

Change the 4th letter E to S, turning PINE into PINS.

Step 6 PINS → PENS

Change the 2nd letter I to E, turning PINS into PENS.

Step 7 PENS → PENN

Change the 4th letter S to N, turning PENS into PENN.

Puzzle Insights

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

Change sequence: 4, 3, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4.

Letter mix: V→V 3, V→C 1, C→V 0, C→C 3.

Word stats: 8 words, 7 unique letters. Start/target share 1 position.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both POLO and PENN first. This ladder needs 7 moves, and the endpoints already share 1 letter position—so a useful move does not always look immediately closer to the target.

The recorded route changes position 4 from O to E first, but saves position 4 (S to N) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, PINE matches 2 target positions. On your replay, explain why that bridge gives you more options than a random swap; this path changes position 4 most often.

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