2026 Puzzle 5: “Backbreaking Work”

Here’s contest puzzle #5. Solve using the applet below, download a PDF, or use Across Lite.

The meta for this puzzle is the grid entry whose clue needs to be changed to make the meta mechanism consistent.

Submit your answer to the meta using the form on the home page.

Backbreaking Work by Pete Muller, Mack Meller, and Andrew White