Rung #18: KITE to BOTH — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 1, 2026: KITE to BOTH, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 4: the shortest climb there is takes 3 rungs, and par gives you one to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from KITE to BOTH. The shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs — is 3 rungs; par is one more, so the shortest route comes in under it. Without the leap the shortest climb is 4 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 2 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. KITE → BITE — the first letter, K becomes B.
2. BITE → BOTH — the leap: I becomes O and E becomes H, two letters in one move for two rungs.

Another route as short: KITE · KITH · BOTH.

The answer

KITE · BITE · BOTH — 3 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

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About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters that day, five now, one changed at a time, par set by the shortest climb there is. Any real word is a rung; a two-letter leap is yours once a day, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.