🐱 Schrödinger Crossword Puzzle

A puzzle with two complete, valid solutions

📖 The Challenge

On Dec 22, 2024, I posed a generative AI challenge:

"Create a 5x5 crossword puzzle with two distinct solutions. Each clue must work for both solutions. Do not use the same word in both solutions. No black squares."

At this point, I can consistently get a valid solution from Google Gemini Deep Thinking.

An example puzzle from Gemini Deep Thinking (Jan 19, 2025) is below — try to solve it both ways!

Hint: Interestingly, it shares one answer with the solution posed by a human puzzler (Arthur): quuxplusone.github.io

🧩 Try to Solve It!

Can you find both valid solutions? Each clue works for two different answers. Try filling in the grids below before revealing the solutions!

Solution A

1
2
3
4
5

Solution B

1
2
3
4
5

Across

1."It can be tender"
2."Term involving opposites"
3."Striking"
4."Corrective measure"
5."Found in a system"

Down

1."It's out there"
2."Mission target"
3."Highly regarded"
4."Cast"
5."Spot for the wash"

🎨 The Two Solutions

Solution A
Solution B
Schrödinger Crossword Solutions

🔍 The Clues & Dual Interpretations

Each clue below works for both solutions. Hover over a row to highlight it.

ACROSS

# Clue Solution A Solution B
1 "It can be tender" PANSY A tender flower, or slang for a tender person SCALD To burn skin with hot liquid, leaving it tender
2 "Term involving opposites" ALOHA Hawaiian term for both "Hello" and "Goodbye"—opposites POLAR Relating to "polar opposites"
3 "Striking" GATOR An animal known for striking/snapping ARTSY Visually striking or affected style
4 "Corrective measure" AMEND A measure taken to correct a document CEASE A measure to stop or correct an action
5 "Found in a system" NODES Intersection points found in a network system ERROR A bug found in a computer system

DOWN

# Clue Solution A Solution B
1 "It's out there" PAGAN One holding beliefs "out there" from the mainstream SPACE The final frontier—literally "out there"
2 "Mission target" ALAMO Historic mission that was a target in battle CORER Tool that targets the core of a fruit
3 "Highly regarded" NOTED Well-known or highly regarded ALTAR A sacred, highly regarded place
4 "Cast" SHONE Cast light LASSO A rope that is cast/thrown
5 "Spot for the wash" YARDS Outdoor spots to hang the wash DRYER Appliance for the wash

✅ Automated Verification Report

✅Grid A is a valid 5×5 grid (no black squares).
✅Grid B is a valid 5×5 grid (no black squares).
✅Solutions A and B are completely distinct (0 shared words).
✅Solution A has no words repeated between Across and Down.
✅Solution B has no words repeated between Across and Down.
✅All clue answers match their corresponding grid positions.
✅All 10 clues have dual interpretations defined.

📝 Complete Word Lists

Solution A Words (10 total)

ALAMOALOHAAMENDGATORNODESNOTEDPAGANPANSYSHONEYARDS

Solution B Words (10 total)

ALTARARTSYCEASECORERDRYERERRORLASSOPOLARSCALDSPACE