Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-04-25: LUKE → LAST

Date: 2026-04-25

LUKE → LAST

Difficulty: Easy Goal Steps: 5 4 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects LUKE to LAST in 5 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 LUKE → LAKE

Change the 2nd letter U to A, turning LUKE into LAKE.

Step 2 LAKE → CAKE

Change the 1st letter L to C, turning LAKE into CAKE.

Step 3 CAKE → CASE

Change the 3rd letter K to S, turning CAKE into CASE.

Step 4 CASE → CAST

Change the 4th letter E to T, turning CASE into CAST.

Step 5 CAST → LAST

Change the 1st letter C to L, turning CAST into LAST.

Puzzle Insights

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

Change sequence: 2, 1, 3, 4, 1.

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

Word stats: 6 words, 8 unique letters. Start/target share 1 position.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both LUKE and LAST first. This ladder needs 5 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 2 from U to A first, but saves position 1 (C to L) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, CASE matches 2 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 LUKE to LAST without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.