2026-01-02
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Case file format — middle clues, ladder order, combo ends, and strategy notes.
Overview
Crossclimb Level 2 is part of our exclusive Crossclimb level track. Crossclimb is LinkedIn's word-ladder game: solve 5 middle crossword clues, order the rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter, then unlock the top and bottom combo words. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated solve time: 3–5 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.
Answer
The complete word ladder from RHINE to STONE:
RHINE → SHINE → SHIRE → SHARE → STARE → STORE → STONE
Top and bottom share the combo clue: “A glittery object on a dress”
Analysis
Case file Crossclimb Level 2: 5-letter ladder, 5 middle exhibits, combo prompt "A glittery object on a dress". Endpoints: RHINE (top) and STONE (bottom).
Middle phase answers: "Radiate light" = SHINE; "Small village, like in The Hobbit" = SHIRE; "What toddlers with one toy may learn to do" = SHARE; "Gaze with intent" = STARE; "Put away to use later" = STORE.
Ordering phase: the valid middle chain is SHINE → SHIRE → SHARE → STARE → STORE. This permutation is the only valid one-letter chain for these answers.
Evidence link: RHINE → SHINE. R→S at the first letter (RHINE → SHINE).
Evidence link: SHINE → SHIRE. N→R at the fourth letter (SHINE → SHIRE).
Evidence link: SHIRE → SHARE. I→A at the third letter (SHIRE → SHARE).
Evidence link: SHARE → STARE. H→T at the second letter (SHARE → STARE).
Evidence link: STARE → STORE. A→O at the third letter (STARE → STORE).
Evidence link: STORE → STONE. R→N at the fourth letter (STORE → STONE).
Verdict: RHINE → SHINE → SHIRE → SHARE → STARE → STORE → STONE satisfies every one-letter constraint. The combo clue "A glittery object on a dress" describes both end words together — "RHINE" and "STONE" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt.
Middle clues
Radiate light
Clue insight
Exhibit A — "Radiate light" → SHINE. "Radiate light" resolves to "SHINE" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer.
Solving note
A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.
Small village, like in The Hobbit
Clue insight
Exhibit B — "Small village, like in The Hobbit" → SHIRE. "Small village, like in The Hobbit" resolves to "SHIRE" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer.
Solving note
A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.
What toddlers with one toy may learn to do
Clue insight
Exhibit C — "What toddlers with one toy may learn to do" → SHARE. "What toddlers with one toy may learn to do" resolves to "SHARE" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer.
Solving note
A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.
Gaze with intent
Clue insight
Exhibit D — "Gaze with intent" → STARE. "Gaze with intent" resolves to "STARE" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer.
Solving note
A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.
Put away to use later
Clue insight
Exhibit E — "Put away to use later" → STORE. "Put away to use later" resolves to "STORE" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer.
Solving note
A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.
Ladder steps
R→S at the first letter (RHINE → SHINE)
Link A: R→S at the first letter (RHINE → SHINE).
Combo-adjacent link — confirms end word placement.
N→R at the fourth letter (SHINE → SHIRE)
Link B: N→R at the fourth letter (SHINE → SHIRE).
Middle chain link — ordering constraint.
I→A at the third letter (SHIRE → SHARE)
Link C: I→A at the third letter (SHIRE → SHARE).
Middle chain link — ordering constraint.
H→T at the second letter (SHARE → STARE)
Link D: H→T at the second letter (SHARE → STARE).
Middle chain link — ordering constraint.
A→O at the third letter (STARE → STORE)
Link E: A→O at the third letter (STARE → STORE).
Middle chain link — ordering constraint.
R→N at the fourth letter (STORE → STONE)
Link F: R→N at the fourth letter (STORE → STONE).
Combo-adjacent link — confirms end word placement.
Ordering
The evidence supports middle order SHINE → SHIRE → SHARE → STARE → STORE. Alternative permutations break the one-letter adjacency rule unless an answer is wrong.
Combo
Final exhibits: RHINE (top combo) and STONE (bottom combo). Shared prompt: "A glittery object on a dress".
The combo clue "A glittery object on a dress" describes both end words together — "RHINE" and "STONE" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt.
Solve path
Phase 1: Solve the 5 middle crossword clues to unlock SHINE, SHIRE, SHARE, STARE, STORE. Middle 1: "Radiate light" → SHINE. "Radiate light" resolves to "SHINE" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Small village, like in The Hobbit" → SHIRE. "Small village, like in The Hobbit" resolves to "SHIRE" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer. Middle 3: "What toddlers with one toy may learn to do" → SHARE. "What toddlers with one toy may learn to do" resolves to "SHARE" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "Gaze with intent" → STARE. "Gaze with intent" resolves to "STARE" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Put away to use later" → STORE. "Put away to use later" resolves to "STORE" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer. Phase 2: Order the middle rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter — valid chain: SHINE → SHIRE → SHARE → STARE → STORE. Ladder step: R→S at the first letter (RHINE → SHINE) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: N→R at the fourth letter (SHINE → SHIRE). Ladder step: I→A at the third letter (SHIRE → SHARE). Ladder step: H→T at the second letter (SHARE → STARE). Ladder step: A→O at the third letter (STARE → STORE). Ladder step: R→N at the fourth letter (STORE → STONE) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "RHINE" and bottom "STONE" share the clue: A glittery object on a dress.
Pattern
Only one middle permutation forms a valid ladder from top to bottom — if ordering feels stuck, recheck a middle answer.
Learn more in Crossclimb Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
Chain SHINE → SHIRE → SHARE → STARE → STORE is the only order matching one-letter steps and the stored RHINE/STONE slots.
Any order that breaks one-letter adjacency implies a wrong middle answer.
Unique middle order — 5-letter rungs, 5 middles, combo "A glittery object on a dress".
Solution
This Crossclimb is a 5-letter word ladder from RHINE to STONE. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: A glittery object on a dress. The solution path is RHINE → SHINE → SHIRE → SHARE → STARE → STORE → STONE, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Radiate light, Small village, like in The Hobbit, and What toddlers with one toy may learn to do, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: SHINE → SHIRE → SHARE → STARE → STORE. The combo clue "A glittery object on a dress" describes both end words together — "RHINE" and "STONE" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt. Only one middle permutation forms a valid ladder from top to bottom — if ordering feels stuck, recheck a middle answer. Use the Solution tab above for a three-phase walkthrough (middles → order → combo ends), or the Solved board tab for the complete ladder at a glance.