Missing Link

About Missing Link — The Word Connection Puzzle

BIRTHDAY, CUP, PAN. What links them? CAKE — birthday cake, cupcake, pancake. That's Missing Link in a nutshell: three clue words share one hidden word, and you have to find it. Some you'll get in a second; some make you stare at the screen a while. It's a word game for middle school and up, for anyone who likes that itch of a word sitting just out of reach. There's nothing to install or sign up for — open it on a phone or laptop and go. Ten puzzles a round, and the tough ones earn their name.

Tips for a bigger score

Each puzzle you crack is worth 15 points. Read all three clues before guessing — the link usually hides in a compound word or a common phrase, not the first idea that pops up. Stuck? The hint button helps but shaves off 5 points, so weigh it up. If one really won't budge, reveal it and move on rather than burn your run. Clean solves, no hints, make the best scores.

Why it's worth your time

Beyond the fun, Missing Link quietly stretches your vocabulary and the flexible thinking behind reading comprehension. Chasing hidden links teaches you to turn a word over and see its other sides. Done here? Wander through our whole set of 19 free learning games, or if word puzzles are your thing, give Synonym Snap, our synonym-matching game, a go.

Questions we get asked

Does Missing Link cost anything?
No, it's free to play and there's nothing to install or sign up for. Just open the page and start solving.

What age is Missing Link best for?
It fits middle-schoolers well, roughly grades 6 to 8, though plenty of adults get hooked on the tougher puzzles too.

How do the hints work?
Tap the hint button and you'll get a nudge toward the answer, but it costs you 5 points, so save it for the puzzles that really stump you.