LinkedIn CrossClimb #628 Solution Guide: One Letter at a Time

Game: LinkedIn CrossClimb | Puzzle ID: #628 | Published: January 18, 2026

Understanding CrossClimb: The Word Ladder Challenge

LinkedIn CrossClimb is a word puzzle game that combines trivia clues with word ladder logic. Players must guess five words based on given clues, then arrange them in order where each word differs by exactly one letter from the previous one. Finally, a compound question unlocks two additional words at the top and bottom of the ladder.

Breaking Down CrossClimb #628: The Breathing Body Parts Puzzle

Today's puzzle challenges you to build a word ladder from SINES to LUNGS, with the final compound answer revealing two parts of the body involved in breathing.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Certain Curves Used in Trigonometry → SINES

This straightforward trigonometry clue refers to the sine function. In math, sine is one of the fundamental trigonometric ratios. The answer SINES (5 letters) serves as your starting point for the word ladder.

Step 2: They're Kept in Cellars and Often Paired with Meals → WINES

From SINES to WINES, you change one letter: the S becomes a W. This clue points to beverages stored in wine cellars—a common dining accompaniment. The word ladder now shows:

SINES → WINES (S changes to W)

Step 3: Parts of a Bird, or Paul McCartney's Band After the Beatles Broke Up → WINGS

Changing one letter again: WINES to WINGS (the E becomes a G). This clever dual-meaning clue references both bird anatomy and Wings, the rock band Paul McCartney formed with his wife Linda after The Beatles disbanded.

SINES → WINES → WINGS (E changes to G)

Step 4: They Can Show a Tree's Age → RINGS

From WINGS to RINGS: change the W to an R. Tree rings reveal a tree's age through annual growth patterns—a key concept in dendrochronology (tree ring dating).

SINES → WINES → WINGS → RINGS (W changes to R)

Step 5: Steps on a Ladder → RUNGS

The final intermediate step: RINGS to RUNGS (the I changes to a U). Rungs are the horizontal steps you climb on a ladder—a fitting conclusion to the intermediate ladder before reaching the body parts answer.

SINES → WINES → WINGS → RINGS → RUNGS

The Compound Question: Two Parts of the Body Involved in Breathing

After arranging your five words correctly, the puzzle unlocks the top and bottom rows with a compound clue about breathing body parts.

Top Answer: SINUS

From SINES (your starting word), change the E to a U: SINUS. The sinuses are air-filled cavities in the skull that play a crucial role in the respiratory system, filtering and humidifying air as you breathe.

Bottom Answer: LUNGS

From RUNGS (your final intermediate word), change the R to an L: LUNGS. The lungs are the primary organs of respiration, where gas exchange occurs—oxygen enters the bloodstream and carbon dioxide is expelled.

Complete Word Ladder Solution

Here's the full CrossClimb #628 solution from start to finish:

SINUS (top answer - singular respiratory part)  ↓SINES (S→W: trigonometric curves)  ↓WINES (E→G: cellar beverages)  ↓WINGS (W→R: bird parts / Paul McCartney's band)  ↓RINGS (I→U: tree age indicators)  ↓RUNGS (R→L: ladder steps)  ↓LUNGS (bottom answer - plural respiratory organ)

CrossClimb Strategy Tips for Puzzle Solvers

• Change one letter at a time: Never rearrange—only substitute individual letters to form new valid dictionary words
• Consider alternative meanings: Clues may have multiple valid answers; if your first guess doesn't fit the ladder, try synonyms with the same letter count
• Use common vocabulary: CrossClimb typically avoids obscure words; stick to well-known terms
• Try vowel substitution first: Changing vowels often creates new valid words and can break through solving plateaus
• Work from both ends: If stuck, try solving from the compound clue backwards to identify the final words

Why This Puzzle Works: The Breathing Theme

CrossClimb #628 brilliantly ties together respiratory anatomy with mathematical and everyday vocabulary. The journey from SINES (abstract mathematics) through wines, wings, and ladder rungs—everyday objects—finally arrives at SINUS and LUNGS, completing a thematic connection to the human body's breathing system. This multi-layer approach to puzzle design makes CrossClimb an engaging daily mental challenge.

Ready for Tomorrow's LinkedIn CrossClimb?

Now that you've mastered #628, you're equipped with proven strategies for solving future CrossClimb puzzles. Remember: focus on one-letter changes, think of multiple meanings for ambiguous clues, and use the compound question as your guide for the final answers. Happy puzzling!