I am full of holes, but I can still hold water. What am I?

How to think about it

1. A container full of holes should leak, so the water must be held in a different way than inside a cup.
2. Think of materials that soak up water instead of containing it.
3. Cloth, paper towels and sponges all absorb water, but only one is known for being “full of holes”.
4. A sponge is made of countless small holes, and those holes are what trap the water.

Why “a sponge” is the answer

A sponge is riddled with tiny pockets, and when you dip it in water those pockets fill up and hold the water until you squeeze. The holes are the reason it works, not an obstacle. The riddle turns a word that sounds like a flaw into the answer’s greatest strength.

Common wrong answers

• A colander. A colander is full of holes and lets water run straight through, so it cannot hold any.
• A net. A fishing net has holes and catches fish, but water passes through it.