Wordplay Crossword Puzzles
Your guide to solving wordplay themed crosswords on PuzzledCross
Wordplay crosswords are puzzles within puzzles — where the clue itself is part of the challenge. These brain-teasers reward lateral thinking, puns, and linguistic creativity.
Sample Clues
Here are examples of the clever clues you'll encounter in wordplay crosswords. Click the puzzle links to try them yourself:
"Official stamp or an aquatic mammal"
"Pitches or shades of color"
Start Here
New to wordplay crosswords? This 7×7 puzzle with 14 words is a great place to start:
Looking for more wordplay puzzles? Browse our full collection on the Wordplay theme page.
What Makes Wordplay Crosswords Unique
Prepare for puns, anagrams, double meanings, and misdirection. Wordplay puzzles don't just test vocabulary — they test how flexibly you can think about language itself.
Try These Puzzles
Solving Tips
Use these strategies to improve your wordplay crossword solving:
- 1Question marks in clues often signal puns or non-literal interpretations
- 2Words like 'perhaps', 'maybe', or 'say' indicate flexible definitions
- 3Homophones (words that sound alike) are fair game — listen for audio clues
- 4Anagram indicators include 'mixed', 'scrambled', 'confused', and similar words
Explore More Wordplay Puzzles
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Lost in Translation
Carnival Nights
World Heritage
Beyond the Blackboard
Rise and Shine
More Theme Guides
Explore other themed crossword guides to expand your solving skills: