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Quizzes > Lifestyle & Hobbies

Crossword Knowledge Quiz: Test Your Clue-Solving Skills

Quick, free clue solving quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Mary BatesUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for a free crossword quiz with clues on a golden yellow background.

This crossword knowledge quiz helps you practice clue solving, learn key crossword terms, and build speed with clear answers. Tackle fresh clues, then compare your score or try a quick crossword quiz to stretch your skills. If you want to boost word power for tougher grids, take a focused vocabulary quiz next.

What does "abbr." indicate in an American-style crossword puzzle clue?
An abbreviation
A homophone
An acronym
An anagram
The term "abbr." in a crossword clue is a clear instruction that the answer will be an abbreviated form. It tells solvers not to look for the full word but a shortened version instead. This convention helps fit longer terms into compact grid slots. For more detail, see .
In crossword clues, a question mark at the end of a clue typically indicates what?
A punny or whimsical definition
An anagram indicator
A hidden-word clue
A pluralization signal
A question mark in an American-style crossword signals a playful or punny twist on the definition rather than a straight meaning. It alerts solvers to expect wordplay or an unexpected interpretation. Without that marker, the definition is usually literal. Learn more at .
What name is given to the black squares that separate words in a standard crossword grid?
Dots
Walls
Blocks
Shades
Black squares in American-style crosswords are commonly called blocks. They serve to separate entries and shape the grid's pattern. The arrangement of blocks also enforces symmetry and the puzzle's overall design. More on grid design at .
What does "var." indicate in a crossword clue?
A verbatim quote
Various options
A variable definition
A variant form or spelling
"Var." is short for variant or variation in crossword clues, meaning the editor accepts an alternate spelling or form of the answer. It helps fit regional differences like "theater" vs. "theatre." Without it, the exact spelling must match the grid entry. See for usage of variant terms.
What is the term for the words or phrases that go into the crossword grid?
Circles
Entries
Themes
Clues
The words or phrases placed into a crossword grid are called entries. Each entry is clued separately in the across or down lists. Theme entries may share a connecting concept, but all filled words remain entries. For more, see .
In crossword puzzle clues, the phrase "sounds like" indicates what?
A homophone indicator
A reversal indicator
An anagram indicator
A hidden-word indicator
"Sounds like" signals that the solver should listen for a word that is pronounced the same but spelled differently, also known as a homophone. It's a key device in both American cryptic-style and British puzzles. Recognizing this helps narrow answer choices quickly. Read more at .
Which of the following words is commonly considered "crosswordese"?
Ewer
Apple
Ocean
Music
"Ewer" (a type of pitcher) is a classic example of crosswordese - high-frequency fill that appears due to its convenient vowels and consonants. Crosswordese words recur because they fit common letter patterns. Recognizing them speeds solving. More at .
What is the standard grid size for a daily American-style crossword puzzle?
13x13
21x21
20x20
15x15
Most daily American crosswords use a 15x15 grid, allowing for balanced word lengths and symmetrical block patterns. Sunday puzzles are often 21x21, offering a bigger challenge. This size has become the industry standard since the mid-20th century. See puzzle standards at .
In crosswords, the clue "without compunctions" is asking for which word?
Ruthlessly
Remorselessly
Unashamedly
Mercilessly
"Without compunctions" literally means acting without remorse or pity, which is best captured by "ruthlessly." While "mercilessly" is close, it doesn't appear as often in crosswords for this exact phrasing. Crossword solvers learn to match nuance carefully. More at .
Which word completes the phrase clued as "__ over heels" in a crossword?
Soul
Arms
Head
Feet
The well-known expression is "head over heels," meaning extremely enthusiastic or infatuated. In crosswords, familiar idioms are common theme entries or shorter fill. Memorizing such phrases helps fill themed and untimed puzzles alike. See usage at .
What is the term for a square that contains more than one letter in a crossword puzzle?
Cluster
Rebus
Double-letter
Glyph
A rebus square holds multiple letters or even symbols in a single grid cell, often to accommodate a theme or tricky entry. Rebus puzzles can be thematic and add a layer of challenge. Solvers learn to recognize and enter them specially. More at .
What is the correct crossword answer for the clue "Go over (text) to correct errors"?
Overwrite
Copyedit
Rephrase
Proofread
"Proofread" specifically means to examine text for errors before publication, fitting the clue perfectly. "Copyedit" also deals with text but involves style and format, whereas proofreading focuses narrowly on mistakes. Crossword clues often hinge on these subtle distinctions. See .
Which term describes a crossword clue whose answer is hidden within the words of the clue?
Homophone clue
Container clue
Hidden-word clue
Double-definition clue
A hidden-word clue conceals the answer consecutively inside the clue's text. Solvers scan the letters of the clue for the exact answer string. This is a hallmark device in cryptic and some American-style puzzles. More at .
In crossword puzzles, "CA" is the postal abbreviation for which U.S. state?
California
Connecticut
Colorado
Carolina
"CA" is the standard two-letter postal abbreviation for California. State abbreviations are among the most common crossword fill elements. Remembering these helps with both themed and quick puzzles. See the USPS list at .
Which day does The New York Times publish its most challenging crossword puzzles?
Wednesday
Friday
Saturday
Monday
The NYT crossword difficulty ramps up through the week, peaking on Saturday with the toughest daily puzzle. Sunday puzzles are larger but rated between Thursday and Friday in challenge. Understanding this schedule helps solvers pace themselves. More at .
Which of the following words fits the clue "Winged horse of Greek myth"?
Pegasus
Minotaur
Sphinx
Phoenix
Pegasus is the famous winged horse born from Medusa's blood in Greek mythology. Crossword puzzles frequently pull from mythological names for mid-length fill. Recognizing key figures speeds solving. Read more at .
What is the three-letter answer for the clue "Unrefined metal"?
Ore
Gold
Iron
Ingot
"Ore" refers to natural rock or sediment containing sufficient minerals to extract metal, making it unrefined metal. Ingots are refined, so they don't fit. Short, common answers like ORE are crossword staples. See .
What five-letter word answers the clue "French farewell"?
Au revoir
Ciao
Adieu
Salut
"Adieu" is the common five-letter French word meaning farewell. "Au revoir" is two words and longer, and "ciao" is Italian. Crossword entries often use single-word answers of the specified length. More at .
What six-letter surname answers the clue "Author of '1984'"?
Orwell
Dickens
Austen
Huxley
George Orwell wrote the novel '1984'. His surname is six letters long, making "Orwell" a perfect crossword fill. Aldous Huxley wrote 'Brave New World,' often a misleading alt option. See .
In a cryptic crossword clue, what does the indicator "heartless" signal?
Find a hidden word
Remove the inner letters
Reverse the letters
Form an anagram
"Heartless" is a standard cryptic indicator telling the solver to remove the middle letters of a word, leaving only its "heartless" ends. Recognizing indicators like this is key to solving cryptic clues. For more cryptic conventions, see .
What does the term "pangrammatic" mean in crossword puzzles?
A puzzle that uses every letter of the alphabet
A themeless puzzle
A puzzle with only theme entries
A puzzle with no black squares
A pangrammatic crossword contains at least one instance of each letter of the alphabet, often woven into theme entries or long fill. These puzzles add an extra layer of construction difficulty. Solvers find them a fun novelty. Learn more at .
What does the term "themeless" mean in crossword puzzles?
A puzzle without a central theme
A crossword that uses barred grids
A puzzle with no black squares
A puzzle using only cryptic clues
A themeless puzzle has no overarching theme connecting long entries; instead, it relies on a variety of longer fills and clever crossings for challenge. Many daily news crosswords are themed, so themeless offerings are a specialty niche. More at .
What is an "&lit" clue in cryptic crosswords?
A clue using initial letters
A clue hiding the answer inside
A clue where the entire text is both definition and wordplay
A clue indicating a homophone
An "&lit" clue (short for "and literally so") is one in which the entire clue serves as both the definition and the wordplay describing how to build the answer. It's considered the pinnacle of cryptic elegance. See examples at .
In cryptic crossword clues, what does a "container indicator" signal?
Form an anagram of the fodder
Place one set of letters inside another
Hide letters consecutively in the clue
Reverse the order of letters
A container indicator tells solvers to insert one sequence of letters (the contents) into another sequence (the container) to form the answer. Recognizing these signals is crucial for advanced cryptic solving. For deep dive, see .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Crossword Clues -

    Apply logical reasoning to solve a variety of crossword quiz clues, sharpening your ability to tackle both simple and complex entries.

  2. Decode Nuanced Vocabulary -

    Interpret tricky phrases like "without compunctions crossword" and expand your understanding of uncommon crossword terminology.

  3. Refine Puzzle Strategy -

    Develop effective approaches for pattern recognition and grid logic, improving your speed and accuracy on each quiz challenge.

  4. Assess Your Crossword Mastery -

    Measure your crossword knowledge test performance and identify areas to focus on for continued improvement.

  5. Identify Crossword Trivia -

    Recognize common crossword puzzle challenge tropes and trivia to deepen your overall puzzle prowess and confidence.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Definition vs. Wordplay Clues -

    Crossword clues often split into a straight definition and a wordplay element; identifying which part holds the direct definition makes solving faster. According to the University of Minnesota Learning Center, distinguishing "without compunctions" as a direct definition flags synonyms like "ruthlessly," so you know to look for an adverb. Practicing this split approach is key for any crossword quiz or crossword puzzle challenge.

  2. Mastering Abbreviations & Acronyms -

    Most crosswords reuse a finite list of abbreviations: dept. for department, misc. for miscellaneous, and Sgt. for sergeant. Oxford Dictionaries reports that knowing the 50 most common shorthand entries can increase fill rate by up to 30%. Carry a quick-reference list during your crossword trivia quiz sessions to solidify recall.

  3. Building a Root & Affix Catalog -

    Academic studies at Harvard's Lexicon Project show that 70% of long crossword entries use Greek or Latin roots - examples include "bio" for life (biology) or "geo" for earth (geology). Creating flashcards for roots like hydro-, phon-, and chrono- accelerates your ability to parse new clues. Over time, recognizing these building blocks is invaluable for any crossword knowledge test.

  4. Spelling Mnemonics for Tricky Words -

    Spelling traps like "liaison" or "onomatopoeia" can slow you down; employing rules such as "I before E except after C" or "double letters in words like Mississippi" helps prevent errors. Merriam-Webster research highlights that mnemonics boost retention by up to 60% in adult learners. A quick mental spelling check is a simple trick to maintain momentum during a timed crossword puzzle challenge.

  5. Pattern Recognition & Cross-Referencing -

    The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament endorses scanning the grid for letter patterns (e.g., _A_E_R_ for "ruler" or "cartels") to narrow down candidates before filling. Cross-referencing intersecting words lets you confirm guesses; if four crosses support a pattern, you're likely correct. This methodical approach transforms a casual solver into a clue-crunching pro in any crossword quiz.

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