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Sunday Puzzle Each week, New York Times crossword puzzle editor and NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz presents an on-air quiz to one contestant and gives a challenge for listeners at home.
Sunday Puzzle

Sunday Puzzle

The Weekly Quiz From NPR Puzzlemaster Will Shortz

What's The Sunday Puzzle?

Each week, Will Shortz, NPR's puzzle master and The New York Times' crossword puzzle editor, presents an on-air quiz to one contestant and gives a challenge for listeners at home.

Official Rules


Play The Sunday Puzzle!

Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Please include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.

Submit Your Answer

What Can You Win?

The winner will play the puzzle on the air with our host and Will Shortz, Weekend Edition's puzzle master and The New York Times' puzzle editor. By playing the puzzle on the air, the winner will receive a Weekend Edition lapel pin; Scrabble from Hasbro Inc.; and The New York Times Sunday Crossword Puzzles, Volume 43, from St. Martin's Press. (Total estimated retail value $30)

Sunday Puzzle: Six-letter words with four vowels and two consonants

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Sunday Puzzle: Six-letter words with four vowels and two consonants

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with KQED listener Michael Kahan of Mountain View, Calif., and Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.

Sunday Puzzle: Six-letter words with four vowels and two consonants

Listen · 5:59
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Sunday Puzzle: April showers bring May flowers

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Sunday Puzzle: April showers bring May flowers

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WAMU listener Joshua Green of Columbia, Maryland and puzzle master Will Shortz.

Sunday Puzzle: April showers bring May flowers

Listen · 6:06
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Sunday Puzzle: Rearrange and match the clues

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Sunday Puzzle: Rearrange and match the clues

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WAMU listener, Aaron Lukas of North Potomac, Maryland and puzzle master Will Shortz.

Sunday Puzzle: Rearrange and match the clues

Listen · 5:55
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Sunday Puzzle: A puzzle for the guest Puzzlemaster, (G)reg (P)liska

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Sunday Puzzle: A puzzle for the guest Puzzlemaster, (G)reg (P)liska

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with Scott Manas of Miami, Florida and puzzle master Will Shortz.

Sunday Puzzle: A puzzle for the guest Puzzlemaster, (G)reg (P)liska

Listen · 5:54
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Sunday Puzzle: In like a lion and out like lamb

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Sunday Puzzle: In like a lion and out like lamb

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest Puzzlemaster Greg Pliska and Wisconsin Public Radio listener Eric Maixner of Appleton, Wisc.

Sunday Puzzle: In like a lion and out like lamb

Listen · 6:26
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Sunday Puzzle: A puzzle for the Puzzlemaster

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Sunday Puzzle: A puzzle for the Puzzlemaster

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest Puzzlemaster Greg Pliska and KGOU listener Nate Tschaenn of Yukon, Oklahoma.

Sunday Puzzle: A puzzle for the Puzzlemaster

Listen · 5:47
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Sunday Puzzle: Beware the Ides of March

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Sunday Puzzle: Beware the Ides of March

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest puzzler Greg Pliska and listener David McKinnis of Fairfield, Connecticut.

Sunday Puzzle: Beware the Ides of March

Listen · 5:46
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Sunday Puzzle: Can you guess the body part with these clues?

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Sunday Puzzle: Can you guess the body part with these clues?

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest puzzler Greg Pliska and listener Thom Gillis of Livonia, Michigan. Also, some listener well wishes for NPR Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.

Sunday Puzzle: Can you guess the body part with these clues?

Listen · 8:01
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Sunday Puzzle: [MO]untain [HO]use getaway

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Sunday Puzzle: [MO]untain [HO]use getaway

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest puzzler Greg Pliska and listener Steve Cosgrove from Minneapolis. Also, an update on NPR Puzzlemaster, Will Shortz.

Sunday Puzzle: [MO]untain [HO]use getaway

Listen · 7:23
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Sunday Puzzle: Hidden Figures in Two-Word Phrases

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Sunday Puzzle: Hidden Figures in Two-Word Phrases

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest puzzler Greg Pliska and listener Tom Gould from Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Sunday Puzzle: Hidden Figures in Two-Word Phrases

Listen · 6:09
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Sunday Puzzle: You'd better sit down for this one

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Sunday Puzzle: You'd better sit down for this one

NPR's Debbie Elliot plays the puzzle with puzzle guest Greg Pliska and listener Kyle Shenk from Bridgeport, Pennsylvania.

Sunday Puzzle: You'd better sit down for this one

Listen · 6:43
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Sunday Puzzle: Let's start and end the same

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Sunday Puzzle: Let's start and end the same

What proper names begin and end with the same two letters? NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with NPR Puzzle Master Will Shortz and listener Rick Tett from Plano, Texas.

Sunday Puzzle: Let's start and end the same

Listen · 6:23
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