CLUE WORD STUDY
SHELF: one clue, many possibilities.
The clue SHELF produces 20 different unique-solution patterns in our 2315-word historical answer dictionary. Match all five colors before selecting a row: the clue word alone does not identify an answer.
Try a puzzle with SHELF
This playable example is from our curated vault. The reference table below includes every unique pattern for the clue, including patterns outside the five-tier selection.
Preparing your five rounds…
Every unique pattern for SHELF
Answers start collapsed. Open only the one you want to see, or choose Hints for a gradual reveal. Counts can stay unchanged between steps when a later constraint adds no further elimination.
| Scored clue | Level | After green | After yellow | Exact matches | Answer | Help |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SHELF GGYGB | Level 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | RevealSHALE | Hints → |
SHELF BBGGY | Level 3 | 15 | 1 | 1 | RevealFIELD | Hints → |
SHELF BGGBY | Level 3 | 26 | 1 | 1 | RevealTHEFT | Hints → |
SHELF BGGYB | Level 3 | 26 | 1 | 1 | RevealWHEEL | Hints → |
SHELF GBYBG | Level 3 | 11 | 1 | 1 | RevealSERIF | Hints → |
SHELF GGGGB | Level 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | RevealSHELL | Hints → |
SHELF BGYBY | Level 4 | 144 | 1 | 1 | RevealCHAFE | Hints → |
SHELF BYGYB | Level 4 | 177 | 2 | 1 | RevealLEECH | Hints → |
SHELF BYYGB | Level 4 | 162 | 1 | 1 | RevealHELLO | Hints → |
SHELF GBYBY | Level 4 | 366 | 1 | 1 | RevealSAFER | Hints → |
SHELF YBGYB | Level 4 | 177 | 2 | 1 | RevealBLESS | Hints → |
SHELF YBYGB | Level 4 | 162 | 1 | 1 | RevealAISLE | Hints → |
SHELF YYGBY | Level 4 | 177 | 2 | 1 | RevealFRESH | Hints → |
SHELF YYGYY | Level 4 | 177 | 1 | 1 | RevealFLESH | Hints → |
SHELF BYBYY | Level 5 | 2315 | 4 | 1 | RevealFILTH | Hints → |
SHELF YBYYY | Level 5 | 2315 | 1 | 1 | RevealFALSE | Hints → |
SHELF YYBBY | Level 5 | 2315 | 5 | 1 | RevealFISHY | Hints → |
SHELF BGGGB | Reference | 3 | 3 | 1 | RevealWHELP | Hints → |
SHELF GBBBY | Reference | 366 | 4 | 1 | RevealSWIFT | Hints → |
SHELF YBBGB | Reference | 162 | 2 | 1 | RevealPSALM | Hints → |
How this table was calculated
We scored this clue against every answer, grouped words by their exact five-tile feedback, and kept patterns with exactly one word. The all-green clue-equals-answer row is excluded. Green and yellow counts are nested filtering steps; the final step checks the entire feedback including gray multiplicity caps.
Data version: wordlein1-2026-11-03-v1. This is a complete reference for this pinned list, not every English dictionary or the current official puzzle. Sources and method