With answers

Word chain examples

Thirty chains to try, from easy to hard. Each shows the first and last word and the first letter of the rest. Open the answer when you're ready, or play it online with hints.

How these examples work

Every pair of neighbouring words makes a compound word or a common phrase. In SNOW → B _ _ _ → R _ _ _, the answer could be BALL (snowball) and then ROOM (ballroom). The answers below list the full chain and the phrase each link makes.

Jump to: Easy · Medium · Hard · Last letter examples

Easy word chain examples

Five words, the most familiar pairs. Good for kids and warm-ups.

1.LAUNCH → P _ _ → L _ _ _ → D _ _ _ → STAIRS
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LAUNCH → PAD → LOCK → DOWN → STAIRS
launchpad · padlock · lockdown · downstairs
2.SUPER → S _ _ _ → L _ _ _ _ → H _ _ _ _ → WARMING
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SUPER → STAR → LIGHT → HOUSE → WARMING
superstar · starlight · lighthouse · housewarming
3.USER → N _ _ _ → T _ _ → T _ _ _ → MATE
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USER → NAME → TAG → TEAM → MATE
username · name tag · tag team · teammate
4.FRESH → W _ _ _ _ → F _ _ _ _ → D _ _ _ → WAY
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FRESH → WATER → FRONT → DOOR → WAY
freshwater · waterfront · front door · doorway
5.COUNTRY → S _ _ _ → K _ _ _ → O _ _ → LINE
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COUNTRY → SIDE → KICK → OFF → LINE
countryside · sidekick · kickoff · offline
6.BAD → N _ _ _ → P _ _ _ _ → B _ _ → FRIEND
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BAD → NEWS → PAPER → BOY → FRIEND
bad news · newspaper · paperboy · boyfriend
7.WARNING → S _ _ _ → P _ _ _ → C _ _ _ → TRICK
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WARNING → SIGN → POST → CARD → TRICK
warning sign · signpost · postcard · card trick
8.SECURITY → G _ _ _ _ → R _ _ _ → R _ _ _ → TRIP
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SECURITY → GUARD → RAIL → ROAD → TRIP
security guard · guardrail · railroad · road trip
9.COMMERCIAL → B _ _ _ _ → I _ → B _ _ → OFFICE
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COMMERCIAL → BREAK → IN → BOX → OFFICE
commercial break · break-in · inbox · box office
10.BUMPER → C _ _ → W _ _ _ → O _ _ → PUT
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BUMPER → CAR → WASH → OUT → PUT
bumper car · car wash · washout · output

Medium word chain examples

Seven words, like the daily puzzle.

1.HUMAN → R _ _ _ → C _ _ _ _ _ → W _ _ _ → B _ _ _ _ → M _ _ _ → DOWN
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HUMAN → RACE → COURSE → WORK → BENCH → MARK → DOWN
human race · racecourse · coursework · workbench · benchmark · markdown
2.SELL → O _ _ → H _ _ _ _ → H _ _ _ → U _ → H _ _ _ → TOP
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SELL → OUT → HOUSE → HOLD → UP → HILL → TOP
sellout · outhouse · household · holdup · uphill · hilltop
3.SCREW → B _ _ _ → P _ _ _ → W _ _ → S _ _ _ → W _ _ _ → OVER
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SCREW → BALL → PARK → WAY → SIDE → WALK → OVER
screwball · ballpark · parkway · wayside · sidewalk · walkover
4.DRAGON → F _ _ → W _ _ _ _ → C _ _ _ _ → M _ _ → K _ _ _ → HEARTED
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DRAGON → FLY → WHEEL → CHAIR → MAN → KIND → HEARTED
dragonfly · flywheel · wheelchair · chairman · mankind · kind-hearted
5.HIGH → L _ _ _ _ → Y _ _ _ → R _ _ _ _ → T _ _ _ → W _ _ _ → TAP
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HIGH → LIGHT → YEAR → ROUND → TRIP → WIRE → TAP
highlight · light year · year-round · round trip · tripwire · wiretap
6.LAMP → P _ _ _ → C _ _ _ → W _ _ _ → P _ _ _ → R _ _ _ → SERVICE
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LAMP → POST → CODE → WORD → PLAY → ROOM → SERVICE
lamppost · postcode · code word · wordplay · playroom · room service
7.CLOSE → C _ _ _ → B _ _ _ → D _ _ _ → B _ _ _ → B _ _ → HOOD
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CLOSE → CALL → BACK → DOOR → BELL → BOY → HOOD
close call · call-back · back door · doorbell · bellboy · boyhood
8.EGG → W _ _ _ _ → C _ _ _ _ _ → B _ _ _ → D _ _ → W _ _ _ → FLOWER
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EGG → WHITE → COLLAR → BONE → DRY → WALL → FLOWER
egg white · white-collar · collarbone · bone-dry · drywall · wallflower
9.BITTER → S _ _ _ _ → T _ _ _ _ → B _ _ _ _ → O _ _ → R _ _ _ → BLOCK
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BITTER → SWEET → TOOTH → BRUSH → OFF → ROAD → BLOCK
bittersweet · sweet tooth · toothbrush · brush-off · off-road · roadblock
10.LUNCH → B _ _ → C _ _ → W _ _ _ → B _ _ _ _ → G _ _ _ → CHANGER
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LUNCH → BOX → CAR → WASH → BOARD → GAME → CHANGER
lunchbox · boxcar · car wash · washboard · board game · game-changer

Hard word chain examples

Eight words with less obvious links.

1.CRUISE → S _ _ _ → B _ _ _ _ → W _ _ _ → O _ _ _ → W _ _ _ _ _ → L _ _ _ → LEADER
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CRUISE → SHIP → BOARD → WALK → OVER → WEIGHT → LOSS → LEADER
cruise ship · shipboard · boardwalk · walkover · overweight · weight loss · loss leader
2.TIP → T _ _ → H _ _ → T _ _ _ _ → Q _ _ _ _ _ _ _ → M _ _ _ → U _ → SHOT
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TIP → TOP → HAT → TRICK → QUESTION → MARK → UP → SHOT
tip-top · top hat · hat trick · trick question · question mark · mark-up · upshot
3.TEDDY → B _ _ _ → T _ _ _ → D _ _ _ → M _ _ → H _ _ _ → P _ _ _ _ → BOWL
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TEDDY → BEAR → TRAP → DOOR → MAN → HOLE → PUNCH → BOWL
teddy bear · bear trap · trapdoor · doorman · manhole · hole punch · punch bowl
4.FAMILY → T _ _ _ → L _ _ _ → D _ _ _ _ → I _ → H _ _ _ _ → P _ _ _ _ → POOPER
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FAMILY → TREE → LINE → DRIVE → IN → HOUSE → PARTY → POOPER
family tree · tree line · line drive · drive-in · in-house · house party · party pooper
5.QUARTER → B _ _ _ → O _ _ _ _ _ → C _ _ _ _ → L _ _ _ → O _ _ → R _ _ _ → SHOW
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QUARTER → BACK → OFFICE → CHAIR → LIFT → OFF → ROAD → SHOW
quarterback · back office · office chair · chairlift · liftoff · off-road · roadshow
6.HORROR → S _ _ _ _ → B _ _ _ → E _ _ → T _ _ _ _ → S _ _ _ _ _ _ → S _ _ → SHADE
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HORROR → STORY → BOOK → END → TABLE → SETTING → SUN → SHADE
horror story · storybook · bookend · end table · table setting · setting sun · sunshade
7.JACK → F _ _ _ _ → F _ _ → P _ _ _ _ → W _ _ _ → B _ _ _ _ → P _ _ _ _ → GANG
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JACK → FRUIT → FLY → PAPER → WORK → BENCH → PRESS → GANG
jackfruit · fruit fly · flypaper · paperwork · workbench · bench press · press gang
8.PET → S _ _ _ _ → R _ _ _ → S _ _ _ _ _ _ → D _ _ → T _ _ → T _ _ _ → SPIRIT
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PET → STORE → ROOM → SERVICE → DOG → TAG → TEAM → SPIRIT
pet store · storeroom · room service · service dog · dog tag · tag team · team spirit
9.CHEEK → B _ _ _ → M _ _ _ → T _ _ _ → O _ _ → C _ _ → W _ _ _ → PACK
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CHEEK → BONE → MEAL → TIME → OUT → CRY → WOLF → PACK
cheekbone · bonemeal · mealtime · timeout · outcry · cry wolf · wolf pack
10.SCALE → M _ _ _ _ → T _ _ _ _ → T _ _ _ _ → S _ _ _ → C _ _ _ → L _ _ → MAKER
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SCALE → MODEL → TRAIN → TRACK → SUIT → CASE → LAW → MAKER
scale model · model train · train track · tracksuit · suitcase · case law · lawmaker

Last letter word chain examples

The other kind of word chain: each word starts with the last letter of the one before. These work well out loud, in a car or a classroom.

Animals: cat → tiger → rabbit → turtle → eagle → elephant → tortoise → eel → lion
Food: apple → egg → grape → eggplant → tomato → orange → eclair → rice → empanada
Countries: Canada → Austria → Algeria → Australia → Afghanistan → Nepal → Laos → Spain → Norway
Verbs: run → nod → dance → eat → think → keep → push → hold → drink
Short words for kids: sun → nap → pig → gum → map → pen → net → top → pot

Play it against the computer in the last letter game, or with the Japanese N rule in shiritori.

Make more

The word chain generator makes new chains from any start word and prints worksheets with an answer key. For one fresh puzzle a day, try today's word chain.

FAQ

Questions people ask

What is an example of a word chain?

RAIN, BOW, TIE, BREAK, FAST. Each neighbouring pair makes a compound word or phrase: rainbow, bow tie, tiebreak, breakfast. In the last letter version, an example is CAT, TIGER, RABBIT, TURTLE, where each word starts with the last letter of the one before.

How do I make my own word chain?

Start with a word that joins lots of others, like ball, light or house. Write a word that pairs with it, then a word that pairs with that one, and so on. Or use the word chain generator to build one and check every link.

What are good word chain game ideas for a group?

Try a themed chain where every word is food, a timed round where each person has five seconds, or a chain that has to end on a word picked in advance. Teams can also race to fill the same chain.

Can I print these examples?

Use the word chain generator to print worksheets of new chains with an answer key on a separate page. Each example here can also be played online.

Keep playing

More word games

Daily Word ChainOne seven-word chain for everyone, new at midnight UTC.

Word Chain UnlimitedEndless chains at the difficulty you pick. Keep the streak going.

Chain Reaction Word GameThe game-show format. Work in from both ends, alone or with a friend.

Last Letter GameStart your word with the last letter of the computer's. 15 seconds a turn.

Word Association GameSpot which word belongs with the prompt, or run a party round.

Compound Word GameSixty seconds to build as many compound words as you can.