Wordy Wednesday 657: Logicrossword 16

WORDY WEDNESDAY #655
PENT WORDS 131 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cindy Heisler **
Derek Allen **
James Haddad *
Joe Bernard **
Michael Lebowitz **
Pavel Curtis **
Randy Rogers **
Russ Kale **
İnci Kıran **
Kevin Orfield **
Marie desJardins **
Patrick Jordan *
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **
Steve Levy **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #656
ANACROSSWORD 45 (hint)

As of this writing, 14 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #657
LOGICROSSWORD 16
(click here for a PDF version)

Blacken some cells in the grid and fill the rest with letters to form words. Hereafter, a “word” refers to any string of two or more consecutive letters reading from left to right or top to bottom, bounded on both sides by black cells or the edge of the grid. All words are Scrabble-legal and appear in the NASPA Word List 2023 Edition (NWL2023). A list of all acceptable 2-letter words is provided as a solving aid; all of the words which are not on this list and not mentioned in the clues should be familiar to most solvers. Use the clues, logic, and your vocabulary to find the solution.

Arrange the letters in the highlighted cells to get the final answer, a single Scrabble-legal word. (If any of the highlighted cells are blackened, then the final answer will be less than 8 letters long.)
AA AB AD AE AG AH AI AL AM AN AR AS AT AW AX AY BA BE BI BO BY DA DE DO ED EF EH EL EM EN ER ES ET EW EX FA FE GI GO HA HE HI HM HO ID IF IN IS IT JO KA KI LA LI LO MA ME MI MM MO MU MY NA NE NO NU OD OE OF OH OI OK OM ON OP OR OS OW OX OY PA PE PI PO QI RE SH SI SO TA TE TI TO UH UM UN UP US UT WE WO XI XU YA YE YO ZA 

• No two black cells share an edge. All the white cells are connected through their edges. No word is repeated in the grid.
• Row 1 contains two 4-letter words; the first letter of the one on the left is the same as the last letter of the one on the right.
• Row 3 contains a word whose first letter is V.
• Row 4 contains the word IDENT.
• Row 5 contains a word whose first letter is S.
• Row 7 contains the word ODEON and exactly two black cells.
• Row 9 contains the word DE, which intersects two words with a combined total of 9 letters.
• Column A contains a 6-letter word.
• Column B contains the word IF.
• Column G contains the word MASHIE.
• The word SI reading across intersects the word OES reading down at cell H3.
• The word MISE reading across intersects the word MU reading down.
• The word OATH intersects the word TEASE.
• The words HO and OK appear somewhere in the grid.
• Two 8-letter words with the same last letter appear somewhere in the grid.
• Cells D2 and F1 contain the same letter, but that letter does not appear anywhere else in the grid.

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What footwear brand is mentioned in a Run-D.M.C. hit?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10: FINAL RESULTS!

FINAL SCORES

Here is a table of all of the participants and their scores (click to enlarge). Kudos to the 10 perfectionists (red) who scored 500 points and to the 6 completionists (orange) who solved every puzzle!

Participants are sorted by score (high to low), and then alphabetically (A to Z). The total number of points scored is 8750. Thus, the final money pool for the Food Bank of West Central Texas is $87.50. Three anonymous benefactors have agreed to match this donation, meaning that the Food Bank of West Central Texas will actually receive $350.00. The total amount of money raised by Kevin's Puzzles at Home for various food banks now stands at $3,627.00.

Click this link for the solutions! Come back next Monday for the 3rd Triple Crown Fox Derby contest sponsored by my Outside the Box Puzzles subscription service! I have developed a great level of respect for Kevin putting these kinds of puzzles together every single week, but regrettably, my creativity seems to have come to an end, so until further notice, Kevin's Puzzles at Home is being suspended. As perhaps a small consolation, though, I plan to switch the Triple Crown Fox Derby from 3 times a year to 4 times a year, and to use it to benefit the same trio of food banks that Kevin's Puzzles at Home has supported. Thanks for your support, and be sure to visit the actual Kevin's website if you want more puzzles like this!

Wordy Wednesday 656: Anacrossword 45

WORDY WEDNESDAY #654
SUDOKUROSTIC 8 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Cathy Bowen **
Derek Allen **
Michael Lebowitz **
Pavel Curtis *
Randy Rogers **
Russ Kale **
Elaine Harger **
İnci Kıran **
Kevin Orfield **
Marie desJardins **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **
Steve Levy **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #655
PENT WORDS 131 (hint)

As of this writing, 14 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #656
ANACROSSWORD 45
(click here for a PDF version)
(click here for rules)

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78
• Lumberjack’s power tool
• Several tones played simultaneously
• “Order in the ____!”
• Argument
• “It’s over Anakin, I have the high ____!” (quote from Star Wars: Episode III)
• Perceive a sound
• “____ Dog” (Elvis Presley hit)
• Excessive pride
• Stinging ocean creature
• History Channel reality series featuring off-the-grid survivalists: 2 wds.
• Ska punk band with lead vocalist Gwen Stefani: 2 wds.
• Toy that is spun by the wind
• State mentioned in “Take Me Home, Country Roads”: 2 wds.

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* A Logicrossword!

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10: Final hint and final week!

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Introduction (what these puzzles are and why they're called "Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10"): click here
Episode 1 (Crazy Clocks): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 4 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 2 (Before and After): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 3 (Tabletop Talk): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 17 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 3 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 4 (Scrambled Crossword): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 19 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 1 person solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 5 (Mystifying Midpoints): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 6 (More Horsing Around): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 15 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 4 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 7 (Tales of the Cryptogram): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 1 person solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 8 (Cruel Crisscross): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 14 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 3 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 9 (Meta) (Vanishing Act): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 100 points apiece.

The total number of points scored is 8750. Thus, the current money pool for the Food Bank of West Central Texas is $87.50. Three anonymous benefactors have agreed to match this donation, meaning that the Food Bank of West Central Texas will actually receive $350.00. If you haven't already, you may solve the above puzzles for 25 points, or the meta for 50 points, possibly with the aid of the hints. This week is your final chance to score points and earn money for the food bank!

Stay tuned next week for all of the solutions and the final results. Good luck!

Wordy Wednesday 655: Pent Words 131

WORDY WEDNESDAY #653
MINI TOUCHWORD 6 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cindy Heisler **
Derek Allen **
James Haddad **
Joe Bernard **
Michael Lebowitz **
Randy Rogers **
Russ Kale **
Elaine Harger *
Kevin Orfield **
Marie desJardins *
Patrick Jordan **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **
Steve Levy **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #654
SUDOKUROSTIC 8 (hint)

As of this writing, 12 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #655
PENT WORDS 131
(click here for a PDF version)

In this puzzle, you must divide the grid into pentominoes (regions containing five cells each), and write a letter in each cell. The rows, reading from left to right, will contain the words hinted at by the Across clues. The letters in the pentominoes, in reading order (left to right starting with the top row), will form the words hinted at by the Pentominoes clues; these clues are presented in no particular order. (In the example, the rows spell PLANT, SHARE, and BITES, and the pentominoes spell the words PLANS, TREES, and HABIT.) Use the ACROSS answers to determine where the pentominoes are.

ACROSS (two answers per row):
1 Japanese board game that resembles chess / Doom and ____
2 Pots and ____ / The Very ____ Caterpillar (Eric Carle book)
3 Tree that shares its name with a Colorado city / A dentist looks at them
4 Shift / Tally, as of population
5 Porridge made from ground hominy / A ship’s freight
6 Certain poker action / Organ that produces lymphocytes and filters blood
7 It covers the end of a lace / Proportion
8 Speedy / Amtrak vehicle
9 Actress Moriarty of The Boys / List of personnel
10 Finish / Early timepiece
PENTOMINOES:
• HALF OF THE FINAL ANSWER
• THE OTHER HALF OF THE FINAL ANSWER
• Traditional Inuit dwelling
• Traditional Navajo dwelling
• Circular
• Brian May’s band
• Weighing device
• Certain poker action
• Enormous
• Openly manifest
• Two strokes under par
• Involuntary muscle contraction
• Chris who played Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy
• Orange peels
• Sudden burst, as of electricity
• Former Indiana governor Mike
• False notions
• ____ by jury
• Adhere
• Shift

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What state is mentioned in “Take Me Home, Country Roads”?
* Patron Puzzle #134, which will be delivered on July 8, 2025, exclusively to Patreon supporters at the Super Fan level and up ($5 or more per month), is a Vocabulary Fun Pack.

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10, Episode 9 (Meta): Vanishing Act

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Introduction (what these puzzles are and why they're called "Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10"): click here
Episode 1 (Crazy Clocks): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 4 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 2 (Before and After): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 3 (Tabletop Talk): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 17 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 3 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 4 (Scrambled Crossword): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 19 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 1 person solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 5 (Mystifying Midpoints): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 6 (More Horsing Around): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 15 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 3 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 7 (Tales of the Cryptogram): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 1 person solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 8 (Cruel Crisscross): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 14 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece.

The total number of points scored 7050. Thus, the current money pool for the Food Bank of West Central Texas is $70.50. Three anonymous benefactors have agreed to match this donation, meaning that the Food Bank of West Central Texas will actually receive $282.00. If you haven't already, you may solve the above puzzles for 25 points, possibly with the aid of the hints. These 8 answers will also be necessary for solving the meta below.

KEVIN'S PUZZLES AT HOME
SEASON 10, EPISODE 9 (META):
VANISHING ACT
(click here for a PDF version)

It looks like Kevin has once again decided to take up the hobby of magic, this time showcasing his ability to make letters disappear! How did the audience respond to Kevin’s latest act?

“With a wave of my magic wand, every letter that’s identical to another letter in the same row will disappear. As a result, the visible letters in one column now spell a 4-letter word from top to bottom; those letters will also disappear. One row has exactly two visible letters; the one that is later in the alphabet is the next letter to disappear. The bottommost visible letter T will now disappear, as will any letter horizontally adjacent to it. Now you see 4 instances of one single letter, but with a wave of the wand, now you don’t see any of them. Two Roman numerals are visible in two horizontally or vertically adjacent spaces, but I’ll make them disappear because math class is tough. Next, I could change this letter to the letter R to spell a 6‑letter word in its row from left to right, but I will leave it alone and make the other 5 letters in that row disappear instead. The visible letters in two other rows spell words of 2 or more letters from left to right; I will make the last letter of the shorter word disappear, as well as all but the third letter of the longer word. Two consecutive letters of the alphabet occupy spaces which share an edge, and that’s right, they’re now gone. Four visible letters occupy four spaces which meet at a corner; all of the consonants in that group are gone. The final disappearance will be two letters occupying vertically adjacent spaces, the one on the bottom being a consonant. Ta-da!”

---

(This illustration by Infernal is not part of the puzzle. Any resemblance between this Kevin and the one who runs www.kevinspuzzles.com is purely coincidental.)

Submit your answer to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com for 50 points, and stay tuned next week for Episode 9's hint, and then the week after for the solutions. Good luck!

Wordy Wednesday 654: Sudokurostic 8

WORDY WEDNESDAY #652
NEW MATH (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Cathy Bowen **
Christian H.P. **
Derek Allen **
James Haddad **
Michael Lebowitz **
Pavel Curtis **
Randy Rogers **
Russ Kale **
CP80 **
Kevin Orfield **
Marie desJardins **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **
Steve Levy **
Tower **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #653
MINI TOUCHWORD 6 (hint)

As of this writing, 14 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #654
SUDOKUROSTIC 8
(click here for a PDF version)

Solve the clues by writing one letter per blank; the clues are alphabetized by the answers as a solving aid. Transfer the letters to the corresponding spaces and fill in the remaining spaces to form a valid sudoku, but with 9 different letters instead of numbers. (Each row, column, and box must contain those 9 letters in some order.) Treat the finished grid as a word search and look for a 6-letter word, which is this puzzle’s final answer. 

Injury from a snake __ __ __ __
                    C2 B3 F8 D2
Pirates of the ____ (Disney movie franchise) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
                                             C3 E1 D3 F9 H7 B5 H5 I9 E8
Officially grant kingly power to __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
                                 I4 A1 G8 B4 H6 F7 E2 A6
Subject of Newton’s first law of motion __ __ __ __ __ __ __
                                        I5 F1 E9 A5 G7 D1 A4
“I Won’t Hold You Back” band __ __ __ __
                             I6 G6 C4 D9

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 5-letter word for "Chris who played Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy"?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10, Episode 8: Cruel Crisscross

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Introduction (what these puzzles are and why they're called "Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10"): click here
Episode 1 (Crazy Clocks): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 4 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 2 (Before and After): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 3 (Tabletop Talk): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 17 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 3 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 4 (Scrambled Crossword): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 19 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 1 person solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 5 (Mystifying Midpoints): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 1 person solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 6 (More Horsing Around): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 15 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 7 (Tales of the Cryptogram): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece.

The total number of points scored 6275. Thus, the current money pool for the Food Bank of West Central Texas is $62.75. Three anonymous benefactors have agreed to match this donation, meaning that the Food Bank of West Central Texas will actually receive $251.00. If you haven't already, you may solve the above puzzles for 25 points each, possibly with the aid of the hints.

KEVIN'S PUZZLES AT HOME
SEASON 10, EPISODE 8:
CRUEL CRISSCROSS
(click here for a PDF version)

Kevin’s name isn’t Criss, but he’s definitely feeling cross! Can you find a way to put these words into the grid?

ADIEU BEAST BINGE CAPER CARRY CATCH CHEAT DWELL FUNGI FUROR GREED HYENA INPUT LASSO LIEGE LIMIT LLAMA MAFIA MOTIF OCCUR RUMBA SCARF SERVO SINUS SWEPT TEETH TRACT TUTOR UTTER WAFER YACHT ZEBRA

---

(This illustration by Infernal is not part of the puzzle. Any resemblance between this Kevin and the one who runs www.kevinspuzzles.com is purely coincidental.)

Submit your answer to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com for 50 points, and stay tuned next week for Episode 8's hint and Episode 9's puzzle, a meta requiring the 8 previous answers to be solved. Good luck!

Wordy Wednesday 653: Mini Touchword 6

WORDY WEDNESDAY #651
ANACROSSWORD 44 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cindy Heisler **
Derek Allen **
James Haddad **
Michael Lebowitz **
Randy Rogers **
Russ Kale **
John Bulten **
Kevin Orfield **
Marie desJardins **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **
Steve Levy **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #652
NEW MATH (hint)

As of this writing, 15 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #653
MINI TOUCHWORD 6
(click here for a PDF version)

In a crossword, words cross each other; in this puzzle, they merely touch. More specifically, all answers read across, and every letter shares an edge with at least one identical letter either immediately above or immediately below. The top and bottom rows are considered adjacent. (If you want more of these puzzles, the author offers the Touchword subscription service Outside the Fox Puzzles.) Arrange the letters in the shaded squares to form the final answer, a Scrabble-legal (unhyphenated, uncapitalized, etc.) 6-letter word. 

1 Lack / 1/50 of a rapper?
2 Maltreatment / Mortar ingredient
3 Animal in “Hickory Dickory Dock” / Grieve
4 Tasty nugget / “. . . for ____ waves of grain. . .”
5 Measures of music / Pound mercilessly
6 According to May 2025 courtroom testimony, Sean “Diddy” Combs took ecstasy pills shaped like this politician’s face: 2 wds.
7 Lustrous fabric made on a jacquard loom / Confessions of a Teenage ____ Queen (2004 film starring Lindsay Lohan)
8 Death / Adorn, as with folds of cloth
9 Place to buy meats and sandwiches / Excessive bureaucracy: 2 wds.
10 Upset / Give back
11 Increased / Chaperon

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 7-letter word for "Subject of Newton’s first law of motion"?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10, Episode 7: Tales of the Cryptogram

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Introduction (what these puzzles are and why they're called "Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10"): click here
Episode 1 (Crazy Clocks): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 4 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 2 (Before and After): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 3 (Tabletop Talk): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 17 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 3 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 4 (Scrambled Crossword): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 19 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 1 person solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 5 (Mystifying Midpoints): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 1 person solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 6 (More Horsing Around): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 15 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece.

The total number of points scored is 5325. Thus, the current money pool for the Food Bank of West Central Texas is $53.25. Three anonymous benefactors have agreed to match this donation, meaning that the Food Bank of West Central Texas will actually receive $213.00. If you haven't already, you may solve the above puzzles for 25 points, possibly with the aid of the hints.

KEVIN'S PUZZLES AT HOME
SEASON 10, EPISODE 7:
TALES OF THE CRYPTOGRAM
(click here for a PDF version)

Kevin’s not quite sure how this substitution cipher can be considered “simple”, but maybe you’ll have better luck reading it.

BU DBSM JBIFSNRM VRDPBLMY, NOXA XA NOR VRD NOLN

JLFXNLTXGRA TRNNRMA LUY NSMUA UXURA LUY GRMBRA XUNB

FLMRUNORARA.

---

(This illustration by Infernal is not part of the puzzle. Any resemblance between this Kevin and the one who runs www.kevinspuzzles.com is purely coincidental.)

Submit your answer to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com for 50 points, and stay tuned next week for Episode 7's hint and Episode 8's puzzle. Good luck!

Wordy Wednesday 652: New Math

WORDY WEDNESDAY #650
PENT WORDS 130 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cindy Heisler **
Derek Allen **
James Haddad **
Joe Bernard **
Michael Lebowitz **
Pavel Curtis **
Randy Rogers **
Russ Kale **
John Bulten **
Kevin Orfield **
Marie desJardins **
Patrick Jordan *
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **
Steve Levy **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #651
ANACROSSWORD 44 (hint)

As of this writing, 13 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #652
NEW MATH
(click here for a PDF version)

This puzzle contains a word suggested by patron Russ Kale. Support me on Patreon at the Super Fan level ($5/month) and solve the monthly Patron Puzzle for a chance to suggest a seed word for a future puzzle, or at the Ultra Fan level ($20/month) to suggest one seed word every month!

Back in my day, we didn’t have Arabic numerals, you whippersnappers!

Comforter on a bed (5)
Employee at a British pharmacy (7)
Figure of speech using “like” or “as” (6)
Focus one’s gaze or attention (6)
Freight-carrying unit on a train (6)
Pertaining to the outer part of something (8)
Secret assembly of cardinals to elect a pope (8)
Shudder (7)
The buying and selling of goods (8)
Wideness or scope (7)
Wisconsin’s capital (7)

____________-1001=____________ (4)
____________-   5=____________ (2)
____________-1000=____________ (4)
____________-   9=____________ (3)
____________-2000=____________ (4)
____________-  90=____________ (3)
____________-  50=____________ (4)
____________- 500=____________ (5)
____________-   1=____________ (3)
____________- 501=____________ (4)
____________-  10=____________ (5)

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What lustrous fabric is made on a jacquard loom?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10, Episode 6: More Horsing Around

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Introduction (what these puzzles are and why they're called "Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10"): click here
Episode 1 (Crazy Clocks): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 3 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 2 (Before and After): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 1 person solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 3 (Tabletop Talk): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 17 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 4 (Scrambled Crossword): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 19 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 0 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 5 (Mystifying Midpoints): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece.

The total number of points scored is 4450. Thus, the current money pool for the Food Bank of West Central Texas is $44.50. Three anonymous benefactors have agreed to match this donation, meaning that the Food Bank of West Central Texas will actually receive $178.00. If you haven't already, you may solve the above puzzles for 25 points, possibly with the aid of the hints.

KEVIN'S PUZZLES AT HOME
SEASON 10, EPISODE 6:
MORE HORSING AROUND
(click here for a PDF version)

Remember that chessboard covered in letters that Kevin showed you 6 seasons ago? Turns out that he has another one! Can you help the knight to make a tour of this second chessboard?

__ __   "__ __    __ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __",  __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __    __    __ __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __?

---

(This illustration by Infernal is not part of the puzzle. Any resemblance between this Kevin and the one who runs www.kevinspuzzles.com is purely coincidental.)

Submit your answer to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com for 50 points, and stay tuned next week for Episode 6's hint and Episode 7's puzzle. Good luck!

Wordy Wednesday 651: Anacrossword 44

WORDY WEDNESDAY #649
LOGICROSSWORD 15 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Derek Allen **
Randy Rogers *
Russ Kale **
John Bulten **
Kevin Orfield **
Marie desJardins **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **
Steve Levy **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #650
PENT WORDS 130 (hint)

As of this writing, 16 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #651
ANACROSSWORD 44
(click here for a PDF version)
(click here for rules)

This puzzle contains a word suggested by patron Cathy Bowen. Support me on Patreon at the Super Fan level ($5/month) and solve the monthly Patron Puzzle for a chance to suggest a seed word for a future puzzle, or at the Ultra Fan level ($20/month) to suggest one seed word every month!

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62

• ____ of the curve
• Windbag
• “____ Ground” (Stevie Wonder song)
• A tax or levy
• Without any interruption
• She played Lady Lou in She Done Him Wrong (1933): 2 wds.
• Asian cat breed featured in the original animated Lady and the Tramp (but not in the remake)
• Go underwater without a breathing device: hyph.
• The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, collectively: 2 wds.

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* Can you do some math?
* Patron Puzzle #133, which will be delivered on June 8, 2025, exclusively to Patreon supporters at the Super Fan level and up ($5 or more per month), is a Logicrossword.

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10, Episode 5: Mystifying Midpoints

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Introduction (what these puzzles are and why they're called "Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10"): click here
Episode 1 (Crazy Clocks): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 2 (Before and After): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 0 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 3 (Tabletop Talk): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 17 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 1 person solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 4 (Scrambled Crossword): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 19 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece.

The total number of points scored is 3575. Thus, the current money pool for the Food Bank of West Central Texas is $35.75. Three anonymous benefactors have agreed to match this donation, meaning that the Food Bank of West Central Texas will actually receive $143.00. If you haven't already, you may solve the above puzzles for 25 points, possibly with the aid of the hints.

KEVIN'S PUZZLES AT HOME
SEASON 10, EPISODE 5:
MYSTIFYING MIDPOINTS
(click here for a PDF version)

Kevin could totally draw a loop and solve this puzzle himself, but he’s in the middle of something more important that’s the center of his attention, so he’s outsourced that task to you. Lucky you!

---

(This illustration by Infernal is not part of the puzzle. Any resemblance between this Kevin and the one who runs www.kevinspuzzles.com is purely coincidental.)

Submit your answer to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com for 50 points, and stay tuned next week for Episode 5's hint and Episode 6's puzzle. Good luck!

Wordy Wednesday 650: Pent Words 130

WORDY WEDNESDAY #648
KEVIN'S UNFINISHED PUZZLES AT HOME (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Cathy Bowen **
Christian H.P. **
Derek Allen **
Michael Lebowitz **
Pavel Curtis **
Randy Rogers *
Russ Kale **
Jason Boomer **
John Bulten **
Kevin Orfield **
Marie desJardins *
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #649
LOGICROSSWORD 15 (hint)

As of this writing, 8 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #650
PENT WORDS 130
(click here for a PDF version)

In this puzzle, you must divide the grid into pentominoes (regions containing five cells each), and write a letter in each cell. The rows, reading from left to right, will contain the words hinted at by the Across clues. The letters in the pentominoes, in reading order (left to right starting with the top row), will form the words hinted at by the Pentominoes clues; these clues are presented in no particular order. (In the example, the rows spell PLANT, SHARE, and BITES, and the pentominoes spell the words PLANS, TREES, and HABIT.) Use the ACROSS answers to determine where the pentominoes are.

ACROSS (two answers per row):
1 Did some hair care / “To thine own ____ be true”
2 Shrek, for one / Cured air-dried sausage
3 ____ friends forever / Former late night host Johnny
4 Geometric oval / A Brit’s afternoon drink
5 A synthetic rubber / Bathroom item
6 One who alters garments / Feudal slave
7 Constricting snakes / Honolulu’s state
8 Pay it ____ / Lounge around, with “out”
9 Low step-in shoe / Festive party
10 ____ Champion (early NES fighting game) / Elbow or knee, for example
PENTOMINOES:
• HALF OF THE FINAL ANSWER
• THE OTHER HALF OF THE FINAL ANSWER
• Thin cracker
• Baker’s need
• Direct the course of
• Fast food order of a burger, fries, and a drink, for one
• Relinquish, as a right
• “Remember the ____”
• Stringed instrument in bluegrass music
• Broken piece of glass
• Jeweled headband
• Forbidden
• Name of the female protagonist in the Twilight books
• Frighten
• Glorify
• Loses traction, as on ice
• Geographical depression
• Ill-fated Ford model named after Henry Ford’s son
• ____ for the wear
• Meet and ____

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* Who played Lady Lou in She Done Him Wrong (1933)?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10, Episode 4: Scrambled Crossword

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Introduction (what these puzzles are and why they're called "Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10"): click here
Episode 1 (Crazy Clocks): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 2 (Before and After): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 0 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 3 (Tabletop Talk): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 17 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece.

The total number of points scored is 2600. Thus, the current money pool for the Food Bank of West Central Texas is $26.00. Three anonymous benefactors have agreed to match this donation, meaning that the Food Bank of West Central Texas will actually receive $104.00. If you haven't already, you may solve the above puzzle for 25 points, possibly with the aid of the hint.

KEVIN'S PUZZLES AT HOME
SEASON 10, EPISODE 4:
SCRAMBLED CROSSWORD
(click here for a PDF version)

The numbers in this crossword are mixed up, and so are the clues! Can you help Kevin sort everything out?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62
__
63
CLUES
• Greek mathematician who supposedly shouted, “Eureka!”
• Insect that shares its name with a British sport
• X-Men character with the real name Max Eisenhardt
• ____ American (magazine that published Martin Gardner’s “Mathematical Games” columns)
• The ____ of the Traveling Pants (2005 film)
• Drink served by a jerk
• Quality of a good ninja or spy
• Pixar film featuring Buzz Lightyear: 2 wds.
• Go from bad to ____
• ____ Sam (Looney Tunes character)

---

(This illustration by Infernal is not part of the puzzle. Any resemblance between this Kevin and the one who runs www.kevinspuzzles.com is purely coincidental.)

Submit your answer to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com for 50 points, and stay tuned next week for Episode 4's hint and Episode 5's puzzle. Good luck!

Wordy Wednesday 649: Logicrossword 15

WORDY WEDNESDAY #647
MINI TOUCHWORD 5 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cindy Heisler **
Derek Allen **
Joe Bernard **
Michael Lebowitz **
Pavel Curtis **
Randy Rogers **
Russ Kale **
John Bulten **
Kevin Orfield **
Marie desJardins **
Patrick Jordan **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **
Steve Levy **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #648
KEVIN'S UNFINISHED PUZZLES AT HOME (hint)

As of this writing, 11 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #649
LOGICROSSWORD 15
(click here for a PDF version)

Blacken some cells in the grid and fill the rest with letters to form words. Hereafter, a “word” refers to any string of two or more consecutive letters reading from left to right or top to bottom, bounded on both sides by black cells or the edge of the grid. All words are Scrabble-legal and appear in the NASPA Word List 2023 Edition (NWL2023). A list of all acceptable 2-letter words is provided as a solving aid; all of the words which are not on this list and not mentioned in the clues should be familiar to most solvers. Use the clues, logic, and your vocabulary to find the solution.

Arrange the letters in the highlighted cells to get the final answer, a single Scrabble-legal word. (If any of the highlighted cells are blackened, then the final answer will be less than 8 letters long.)

AA AB AD AE AG AH AI AL AM AN AR AS AT AW AX AY BA BE BI BO BY DA DE DO ED EF EH EL EM EN ER ES ET EW EX FA FE GI GO HA HE HI HM HO ID IF IN IS IT JO KA KI LA LI LO MA ME MI MM MO MU MY NA NE NO NU OD OE OF OH OI OK OM ON OP OR OS OW OX OY PA PE PI PO QI RE SH SI SO TA TE TI TO UH UM UN UP US UT WE WO XI XU YA YE YO ZA

• No two black cells share an edge. All the white cells are connected through their edges. No word is repeated in the grid.
• Row 1 contains a 9-letter word.
• Row 2 contains the word IODID. Besides IODID, exactly one other 5-letter word reads across.
• Row 4 contains exactly two black cells.
• Row 8 contains the word EDENTATES.
• Column C contains the word EGO.
• Column D contains a word that contains the substring EG.
• Column E contains a 5-letter word.
• Column F contains exactly one instance of the letter J.
• Column G contains the words BATTU (which intersects TEA) and ENG (which intersects IGLU).
• Column I contains a 5-letter word that contains the letter M, but not the letter H.
• The words EN and EW read across.
• The word NOLO reads down.
• The words AMIDO, EMO, and REES appear somewhere.
• A 4-letter word that starts with B and ends with one of the first 9 letters of the alphabet appears somewhere.
• A 4-letter word that contains the letters F and R appears somewhere.

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 5-letter word for "Name of the female protagonist in the Twilight books"?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10, Episode 3: Tabletop Talk

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Introduction (what these puzzles are and why they're called "Kevin's Puzzles at Home Season 10"): click here
Episode 1 (Crazy Clocks): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 16 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece; 2 people solved it later for 25 points.
Episode 2 (Before and After): puzzle PDF, hint PDF
* 18 people solved this within the first week for 50 points apiece.

The total number of points scored is 1750. Thus, the current money pool for the Food Bank of West Central Texas is $17.50. Three anonymous benefactors have agreed to match this donation, meaning that the Food Bank of West Central Texas will actually receive $70.00. If you haven't already, you may solve the above puzzles for 25 points, possibly with the aid of the hints.

KEVIN'S PUZZLES AT HOME
SEASON 10, EPISODE 3:
TABLETOP TALK
(click here for a PDF version)

Kevin has been logging some interesting board games he’s played.

• My friend and I played this game for stakes using the doubling cube, and it was very satisfying when I would hit his blots and send them to the bar. Buy yourself a briefcase edition and enjoy this classic yourself! I won 6 games out of 10.

• The spaghetti western theme of this game designed by Emiliano Sciarra pulled me in. Note to self: the “birra” (beer) cards stop healing you when only two players remain. Obviously, the message of this game is to only drink beer in the company as many other people as possible. I won 1 game out of 4.

• I’ve fallen in love with this Michael Kiesling game inspired by Portuguese tilework, and look forward to trying some of the spin-offs such as “Stained Glass of Sintra” and “Summer Pavilion”. I won 1 game out of 4.

• Marc André designed this modern classic in which players play the role of Renaissance gem merchants racing for prestige. Be sure to reserve the card you want before someone else does, and don’t forget about the Noble tiles. I won 3 games out of 8.

• Is chess not educational enough for you? Try this Japanese game which is similar to chess, but you get to learn kanji along the way! Being able to drop the pieces you’ve previously captured is a very fun gameplay mechanic. I won 3 games out of 5.

• This game sounds like it would be played by Tom Cotton, Chuck Schumer, and 98 other people. However, it was actually first played by ancient Egyptians, and is strictly for 2 players. Throw the sticks to determine how many spaces to move, and try to get your pieces off the board. I won 3 games out of 5.

• Few people are aware that Leslie Scott designed this dexterity game or that its name comes from Swahili, but everybody knows not to make the tower of blocks collapse. I won 2 games out of 5.

---

(This illustration by Infernal is not part of the puzzle. Any resemblance between this Kevin and the one who runs www.kevinspuzzles.com is purely coincidental.)

 

Submit your answer to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com for 50 points, and stay tuned next week for Episode 3's hint and Episode 4's puzzle. Good luck!