Writing instrument

The answer

PEN

3 letters. See every clue for this answer on the PEN answer page.

Used 19 times across 11 distinct years; most recently in 2025; first recorded in 2005. It appears in 4 publications in the xd corpus. Frequency and last-seen figures come from the xd crossword corpus only.

Other answers for this clue

The same clue has also been answered these ways in the xd corpus. Answers inside this collection link to their own answer page.

• PENCIL (7 uses in xd)

Other clues for PEN

Every other clue in this collection answered by PEN, most used first.

• Corral - used 113 times, most recently in 2026
• Signing need - used 105 times, most recently in 2026
• Stock holder - used 92 times, most recently in 2026
• Write - used 86 times, most recently in 2026
• Farm enclosure - used 49 times, most recently in 2026
• Writing tool - used 48 times, most recently in 2026
• Paper Mate product - used 33 times, most recently in 2026
• Calligraphy tool - used 32 times, most recently in 2025
• Pigsty - used 32 times, most recently in 2026
• Writing implement - used 32 times, most recently in 2025
• Bic product - used 29 times, most recently in 2026
• Slammer - used 27 times, most recently in 2021
• Compose - used 26 times, most recently in 2026
• Ballpoint, e.g. - used 25 times, most recently in 2026
• Signature piece? - used 24 times, most recently in 2026
• Signer's need - used 23 times, most recently in 2026
• Animal enclosure - used 22 times, most recently in 2025
• Author - used 20 times, most recently in 2025
• Ballpoint - used 20 times, most recently in 2026
• Pig's digs - used 19 times, most recently in 2026
• Big house - used 17 times, most recently in 2021
• Enclosure - used 17 times, most recently in 2022
• Female swan - used 17 times, most recently in 2022
• Sty - used 17 times, most recently in 2022
• Cooler - used 15 times, most recently in 2025
• Its tip may be felt - used 13 times, most recently in 2019
• Calligrapher's tool - used 11 times, most recently in 2026
• Confident solver's tool - used 11 times, most recently in 2026
• Cross product - used 11 times, most recently in 2026
• It's mightier than the sword - used 11 times, most recently in 2026
• Signing tool - used 11 times, most recently in 2026
• Sword's superior, proverbially - used 11 times, most recently in 2017
• Sword's superior - used 10 times, most recently in 2015
• White House souvenir - used 10 times, most recently in 2019
• Writer - used 10 times, most recently in 2022
• Writer's tool - used 10 times, most recently in 2023
• Writing utensil - used 10 times, most recently in 2024
• Proverbial sword beater - used 9 times, most recently in 2019
• Hotel freebie - used 8 times, most recently in 2023
• Ink-filled tool - used 8 times, most recently in 2026
• Parker product - used 8 times, most recently in 2018
• Pocket protector item - used 8 times, most recently in 2024
• Quill. - used 8 times, most recently in 2015
• Sword's superior, in a saying - used 8 times, most recently in 2018
• Autograph hound's necessity - used 7 times, most recently in 2015
• Cartridge holder - used 7 times, most recently in 2018
• Check endorser's need - used 7 times, most recently in 2024
• Cob's mate - used 7 times, most recently in 2025
• Confident crossword solver's tool - used 7 times, most recently in 2020
• Cygnet's mother - used 7 times, most recently in 2023
• Ink holder - used 7 times, most recently in 2023
• Livestock enclosure - used 7 times, most recently in 2021
• Pilot product - used 7 times, most recently in 2026
• Ballpoint, for example - used 6 times, most recently in 2026
• Be the author of - used 6 times, most recently in 2026
• Con's confines - used 6 times, most recently in 2014
• Desk set item - used 6 times, most recently in 2021
• "Felt-tip" implement - used 6 times, most recently in 2025
• Fenced-in area - used 6 times, most recently in 2020
• Fold. - used 6 times, most recently in 2022
• Hoosegow - used 6 times, most recently in 2010
• Memento from a bill-signing ceremony - used 6 times, most recently in 2024
• Sword vanquisher - used 6 times, most recently in 2013

Related clues

Clues in this collection of the same answer length that share a word with this clue, or match its answer pattern when no word is shared. Most used first.

• Luau instrument - UKE, used 101 times
• Jazz instrument - SAX, used 52 times
• Luau instrument, for short - UKE, used 47 times
• Kenny G's instrument - SAX, used 40 times
• Writing tablet - PAD, used 37 times
• Writing tip - NIB, used 22 times

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