Riddle of the day: I have branches, but no fruit, trunk or leaves. What am I?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Riddle: I have branches, but no fruit, trunk or leaves. What am I?
Answer: A bank.
Explanation:
This riddle plays with words that have multiple meanings. At first glance, the words branches, fruit, trunk, and leaves seem to refer to parts of a tree. That sets the listener or reader up to think in terms of nature, particularly trees. However, the riddle cleverly misleads by using a different meaning of the word branches.
In this context, a bank is the correct answer. Banks have branches, which are separate office locations or divisions in different areas to serve customers. These are called “branches” just like the limbs of a tree, but they are entirely unrelated to biology or plants.
The riddle also includes the phrases no fruit, trunk, or leaves:
- A bank does not bear fruit, unlike a fruit tree.
- It does not have a trunk, in the sense of a tree trunk. Although banks may use “trunk lines” in telecommunications or have armored “trucks,” there is no wooden trunk as in a tree.
- A bank also has no leaves, which trees use for photosynthesis. However, the word leave can also be a verb or refer to paper leaves, yet this meaning does not apply here.
The cleverness of the riddle lies in its use of metaphor and ambiguity. It invites you to think about the natural world but shifts the answer into the domain of institutions. This makes it a classic example of a lateral thinking riddle, where success depends on thinking beyond the obvious. The answer bank shows how one word can have multiple meanings depending on context, adding to the fun and challenge of the puzzle.
