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Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
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Word grid
All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
BARLEY
BARON
BONG
BROWN
DUKE
EARL
FORD
HOWARD
KING
LEE
OAT
PRINCE
RICE
RYE
SPELT
STONE
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
GRAINSStraightforward
ROYAL TITLESModerate
UNIVERSITIESTricky
BEST DIRECTOR OSCAR WINNERSDevious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
GRAINSStraightforward
CEREAL CROPS GROWN IN FIELDS+ 3 more…
ROYAL TITLESModerate
NOBLE RANKS AND TITLES OF ARISTOCRACY+ 3 more…
UNIVERSITIESTricky
PRESTIGIOUS AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES+ 3 more…
BEST DIRECTOR OSCAR WINNERSDevious
SURNAMES OF ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING DIRECTORS+ 3 more…
Full solution
GRAINSStraightforward
BARLEY,OAT,RYE,SPELT
Barley, oat, rye, and spelt are all types of cereal grains used in food and brewing.
ROYAL TITLESModerate
BARON,EARL,KING,PRINCE
Baron, earl, king, and prince are all royal or noble titles in a monarchy's hierarchy.
UNIVERSITIESTricky
BROWN,DUKE,HOWARD,RICE
Brown, Duke, Howard, and Rice are all well-known American universities.
BEST DIRECTOR OSCAR WINNERSDevious
BONG,FORD,LEE,STONE
Bong (Joon-ho), Ford (John), Lee (Ang), and Stone (Oliver) have all won the Best Director Oscar.