Word Ladder Game for Kids
Word Ladder is a free word puzzle game for kids. Change one letter at a time to turn the start word into the goal word, such as CAT → COT → DOT → DOG, making a real word on every rung.
Word Ladder
Loading game…
- Ages
- 7–12
- School years
- Grade 2–Grade 6
- Skills
- Spelling and changing one letter to make a new word, Hearing how one sound changes a word (cat, cot), Vocabulary: matching a clue to a word
- Time
- 5–10 minutes a game
- Cost
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
How to play Word Ladder
- Choose a level: 3-letter ladders with clues, 4-letter ladders with clues, 4-letter ladders, or 5-letter ladders. Each game has four ladders that get longer as you go.
- Tap a letter in your word (or use the arrow keys), then pick a new letter from the keys or type it. Only one letter can change on each rung. Press ✓ or Enter to climb.
- Every rung must be a real word. Any word in the game’s word list counts, so you can find your own way up. On the clue levels, a clue tells you the word for the next rung.
- Par is the fewest steps the ladder can be done in. Reach the goal at par with no hints to win a trophy. Stuck? A hint shows the next letter to change, and ↩ steps back down a rung.
What your child learns
- Spelling and changing one letter to make a new word
- Hearing how one sound changes a word (cat, cot)
- Vocabulary: matching a clue to a word
- Planning ahead and working backwards from a goal
- Spotting which letters already match the goal
- Persistence and problem solving
About Word Ladder
Word ladders were invented by Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, who called them doublets. The rule is simple: change one letter at a time, and every step must be a real word. To climb from CAT to DOG, a child might go CAT, COT, DOT, DOG. Each rung is a small spelling decision: which letter should change, and which new letter makes a word? That makes word ladders a great way to practice spelling patterns and to notice how a single sound changes a word.
The clue levels suit Grades 2–3: the 3-letter and 4-letter ladders give a short clue for each rung, such as “a tiny round spot” for DOT, so children practice vocabulary as well as spelling. Older children in Grades 4–6 play 4-letter and 5-letter ladders without clues, where planning ahead really matters. Every ladder has a par, the fewest steps possible, worked out from the game’s own word list. That list has nearly 2,000 common, child-friendly words spelled the same in British and American English, and any of them counts, so children who find a different path still climb the ladder. A hint shows the next letter to change, and there is no timer.
Which level should my child play?
| School year | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| Grade 2 | 3-letter ladders with clues |
| Grade 3 | 4-letter ladders with clues |
| Grade 4 | 4-letter ladders, no clues |
| Grade 5 | 5-letter ladders |
| Grade 6 | 5-letter ladders at par |
Move up a level after getting three stars two or three times in a row.
🏆 Leaderboard
Full leaderboard →Play a round to get on the board! Create a free account to save your scores.
Frequently asked questions
What is a word ladder?
A word ladder is a puzzle where you turn one word into another by changing one letter at a time. Every step must be a real word, for example CAT, COT, DOT, DOG. Lewis Carroll invented them in 1877 and called them doublets.
What does par mean?
Par is the smallest number of steps needed to reach the goal word. The game works it out from its word list. You can take more steps and still finish, but reaching the goal at par with no hints earns a trophy and bonus points.
Do I have to follow one set answer?
No. Any real word in the game’s word list counts, as long as you change only one letter. If you find a different path, the clues and hints follow your path to the goal.
Which words are allowed?
The game uses a word list of common, child-friendly words that are spelled the same in British and American English. Plurals, rude words and very unusual words are left out, so a word you know might occasionally not be in the list.
How do hints work?
Press Hint and the game changes the next letter for you, on a shortest path to the goal. Press ✓ to climb. Hints cost points but you can use as many as you need, and ↩ steps back down a rung if you get stuck.
More games you’ll love
All english games →Look, cover and spell words from memory.
Unscramble letters using picture clues.
Listen and find Dolch sight words.
Find the word that rhymes.
Add numbers within 10, 20, 100 or 1,000.
Practice any times table from 2× to 12×.
Help your child shine in English
Practice at home is a great start. Success Tutoring offers personalized tutoring to build skills and confidence.