Ready to play?

I am tucking into a nice bowl of french onion soup - and given the noises coming from the basement, I remain optimistic that heat will be forthcoming soon.

One can hope....

Anyway, it's time for today's Brain Bender via the handy dandy discount MENSA calendar.

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Place the same three letter word in each blank below to make five different words.

• ____E
• ____TROT
• ____WOOD
• ____MA
• ____LEG

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Okie doke. I am going to go do some housework and try to keep warm. And like always, the answer will be found in the comments later!