The answer to "Find another purpose for" in the NYT Crossword is REUSE — five letters, to use something again in a new way.
Why REUSE?
The clue is a plain-English definition wearing work clothes. To "find another purpose for" something is to reuse it — the jam jar becomes a pen holder, the old t-shirt becomes a cleaning rag. There's no wordplay here, no trick, just a direct synonym, which is exactly why it can be surprisingly hard mid-puzzle: solvers keep hunting for a clever twist that isn't there. The NYT Mini used this exact clue on March 14, 2026, with REUSE as the answer.
But here's the detail that separates good solvers from great ones: the verb form matters. "Find another purpose for" (five letters) gives REUSE, while "Finds another purpose for" (six letters) gives REUSES — confirmed in the full NYT Crossword of May 24, 2025. The clue and answer must agree in number, and constructors use that agreement as a quiet signal. One letter of difference in the clue means one letter of difference in the answer.
Solving Tip: Match the Verb Form Exactly
This clue is a masterclass in a small but crucial crossword skill: grammatical agreement. If the clue's verb is singular ("finds," "gets," "makes"), the answer is singular too — REUSES. If it's the base form ("find," "get," "make"), the answer follows suit — REUSE. Before you write anything in, count the letters in the slot and check the clue's verb form; together they pin the answer down with no crosses needed.
More broadly, definition-style clues like this one reward thinking in synonyms rather than stories. "Find another purpose for" isn't asking for an example or a brand — it's asking for the verb that means exactly that. When a clue reads like a dictionary entry, reach for the simplest synonym first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the answer to "Find another purpose for" in the NYT Crossword?
REUSE, with five letters — to use something again for a different purpose.
What's the difference between REUSE and REUSES in crosswords?
"Find another purpose for" → REUSE (5 letters, NYT Mini March 14, 2026). "Finds another purpose for" → REUSES (6 letters, NYT May 24, 2025). The clue's verb form determines the answer.
Could the answer be RECYCLE?
RECYCLE has appeared for similar clues in other puzzles (Universal, February 22, 2020), but for the exact NYT wording "Find another purpose for," REUSE is the confirmed answer.
Why is this clue tricky if it's just a definition?
Because solvers expect wordplay and overlook the plain synonym. The trick is that there is no trick — the simplest synonym is the answer.