Bad at figuring out the answers for crossword clues? Then this puzzle is for you, because each word that we’re trying to find is defined three times! For each entry below, there are three different definitions of the exact same word. That word might sound different in some cases or have a capital letter, but the spelling is exactly the same. Can you answer all of the words?

Answers: (click to read the rest of this post…)

In this puzzle, I will give you a group of four words. Three of them will have a number that the word “equals”, and based on those answers, you have to figure out what the fourth one equals. For instance:

PARTRIDGE = 1
RINGS = 5
DRUMMERS = 12
FRENCH HENS = ?

The answer is 3 (it’s the number based on the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”). Think you’ve got what it takes to solve these? (Answers at bottom of post.)

1.
GROUNDHOG = 2
PATRICK = 17
FOOLS = 1
HALLOWS = ?

2.
RED = 1
BLUE = 5
YELLOW = 3
GREEN = ?

3.
NINE = 11
TEN = 9
ELEVEN = 19
TWELVE = ?

4.
CANARY = 2
CRAB = 10
SNAKE = 0
BEETLE = ?

5.
NETWORK = 2
STENCIL = 10
HONESTY = 1
CANINES = ?

6.
JOSHUA = 6
JAMES = 59
JOHN = 43
LUKE = ?

7.
DOUGHNUT = 1
NOSE = 2
BOWLING BALL = 3
FUNNEL = ?

8.
DOVER = 1
TRENTON = 3
JUNEAU = -2
AUSTIN = ?

9.
IAN = 1
VINCENT = 6
MICHAEL = 1099
VALERIE = ?
(click to read the rest of this post…)

I have a box full of used puzzle magazines at home, and I love the challenge of trying completely new types of puzzles. I also enjoy making puzzles, some of which I’ll be showcasing here. Here’s my newest type of puzzle, entitled “Cross-Phrase”.

Unlike most crossword puzzles, which give you clues for each Across and Down entry, in this puzzle, each clue gives you the answer to either a two-word phrase or a compound word. Figure out the answer to a clue, break up the answer into its two natural parts, and place each part on the grid as shown in the clue. For example, if the clue was “1-A 2-D – Geyser in Yellowstone National Park”, the answer would be OLD FAITHFUL, so you’d put OLD at 1-Across and FAITHFUL at 2-Down.

Click the picture below to get a high-resolution version of the picture, then print it out on your home printer. To help with solving, the answers to the clues are in alphabetical order.

Having trouble? Read the rest of this blog entry… a solving hint and the solution will be right there for you.
(click to read the rest of this post…)