Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-05-12: HOLE → HALF

Date: 2026-05-12

HOLE → HALF

Difficulty: Medium Goal Steps: 6 4 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects HOLE to HALF in 6 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 HOLE → POLE

Change the 1st letter H to P, turning HOLE into POLE.

Step 2 POLE → PALE

Change the 2nd letter O to A, turning POLE into PALE.

Step 3 PALE → MALE

Change the 1st letter P to M, turning PALE into MALE.

Step 4 MALE → MALL

Change the 4th letter E to L, turning MALE into MALL.

Step 5 MALL → HALL

Change the 1st letter M to H, turning MALL into HALL.

Step 6 HALL → HALF

Change the 4th letter L to F, turning HALL into HALF.

Puzzle Insights

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

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

Letter mix: V→V 1, V→C 1, C→V 0, C→C 4.

Word stats: 7 words, 8 unique letters. Start/target share 2 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both HOLE and HALF 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 P first, but saves position 4 (L to F) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, MALE 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 HOLE to HALF without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.