5 letters · 16 words
Unscramble CULPA
CULPA is itself a valid word in both Scrabble and Words With Friends, worth 9 points and 13 respectively on plain squares. Rearranged and shortened, the same 5 letters make 16 words in total, from 5 letters down to two. No other word uses all 5 letters, which makes it a safe rack to hold. The highest scoring option is CULPA at 9 points in Scrabble. Negligence or fault, as distinguishable from dolus (deceit, fraud), which implies intent, culpa being imputable to defect of intellect, dolus to defect of heart.
More ways to use these letters
Scores shown are the bare tile values. Premium squares, and the fifty point bonus for using all seven tiles, are not included because they depend on where the word lands. More on that here.