Party Whammy

40 story prompts

Family CleanBest for ages 8 and upLight, welcoming, and low-pressure

How to play

  1. Choose a section or use the random picker.
  2. Keep the sentence hidden, ask for each bracketed word type, and write the answers in order.
  3. Read the completed sentence aloud, then let the next reader take a turn. Allow anyone to pass.
Random story prompt

Draw one when the room is ready

The [adjective] astronaut arrived riding a [noun].

Ridiculous arrivals

  1. The [adjective] astronaut arrived riding a [noun].
  2. A [color] limousine delivered three [plural noun] to the party.
  3. Our new neighbor introduced a pet [animal] named [silly name].
  4. The principal entered school wearing [clothing item] on each hand.
  5. A mysterious package contained one [adjective] [object].
  6. The bus driver announced our next stop was [imaginary place].
  7. At breakfast, a [profession] climbed out of the cereal box.
  8. The parade began when a giant [food] rolled down the street.
  9. The doorbell rang, and [famous character] asked to borrow a [noun].
  10. A tiny [animal] landed a spaceship in the backyard.

Party problems

  1. The birthday cake started [verb ending in ing] before anyone made a wish.
  2. We ran out of plates, so everyone used [plural noun] instead.
  3. The balloon artist accidentally made a [adjective] [animal].
  4. The DJ played a song about [food] and [household object].
  5. Every gift box contained the same [silly noun].
  6. The candles would not blow out until someone shouted [exclamation].
  7. A party hat turned the wearer into a [profession].
  8. The snack table rolled away toward [place].
  9. The pinata opened and dropped hundreds of [plural noun].
  10. The photo booth transported guests to [imaginary place].

Wild adventures

  1. Our team crossed the [adjective] jungle using only a [noun].
  2. The treasure map pointed straight to the town [place].
  3. A talking [animal] challenged us to a [sport] contest.
  4. We escaped the castle by whispering [silly phrase].
  5. The submarine captain served [food] for dinner underwater.
  6. On the moon, our footprints looked like [plural noun].
  7. The dragon guarded a collection of [ordinary object].
  8. We sailed across a sea made of [liquid].
  9. The superhero lost every power except [strange ability].
  10. At the final checkpoint, we traded a [noun] for the key.

Unexpected endings

  1. Everyone cheered when the missing [noun] fell from the ceiling.
  2. The mystery villain turned out to be the family [animal].
  3. We opened the final door and found [number] dancing [plural noun].
  4. The trophy was actually made from [food].
  5. Our grand prize was a lifetime supply of [plural noun].
  6. The spell ended after someone sneezed [number] times.
  7. The robot saved the day with a [household object].
  8. The whole adventure had been planned by [person in room].
  9. We returned home carrying one very [adjective] [noun].
  10. The newspaper headline read: [silly headline].

Mad Libs: 40 clean fill-in prompts

Ask someone for a describing word and a noun, then read the silly sentence their answers make. These 40 original, family-clean prompts are short sentences you can fill in together, grouped into ridiculous arrivals, party problems, wild adventures and unexpected endings. Use the random picker to get a sentence or choose one from the collection.

Plan for 2–20 players, ages 8 and up, indoors or while traveling. Allow about five minutes to get ready and try 10–15 minutes of play. Paper and a pencil help the reader remember the answers; you don’t need a separate game set.

What would you like to do? Learn how to play See a finished sentence

How to play with these prompts

Here’s a cooperative way to play: everyone supplies words to make a surprising sentence. There are no points, winners or ties to settle.

  1. Choose the first reader. That person picks a sentence or uses the random picker. Keep the screen or paper facing the reader so the other players cannot see the sentence yet. Decide whether you’ll stop after 10–15 minutes or after every willing reader has had one turn.
  2. Ask for the words in order. Read only the labels in brackets, such as “adjective” and “noun.” Write each answer down beside its label. With two people, the other player supplies all the words. With more players, go around in seating order, asking the next person for each blank. Teams can take turns supplying one word instead.
  3. Read the finished sentence aloud. Put each answer into its blank and read the whole sentence, even if the combination is strange. That mismatch is part of the game; players don’t need to guess what the sentence was supposed to say.
  4. Give the next person a turn to read. Move to the next willing reader in seating order, choose a new sentence and start with fresh answers. A player may pass on supplying a word or reading aloud.

You can read for a child while they supply the words. The Mad Libs for kids collection includes more guidance on introducing word types, and funny Mad Libs offers another set of fill-in story cards.

What do the word labels mean?

Give an example when a label is unfamiliar. Players can use an ordinary answer; it doesn’t have to sound funny by itself.

  • Noun: a person, place or thing, such as a baker, a park or a toaster.
  • Plural noun: more than one, such as socks or pancakes.
  • Adjective: a describing word, such as sparkly, sleepy or enormous.
  • Verb ending in ing: an action written that way, such as dancing or wobbling.
  • Animal, food, color or profession: name something in that category, such as an otter, spaghetti, purple or a dentist.
  • Imaginary place, silly phrase or strange ability: invent an answer, such as Pancake Island, “my socks are singing” or turning umbrellas into jelly.

For example, the reader chooses “The [adjective] astronaut arrived riding a [noun].” Without showing the sentence, they ask for an adjective and a noun. If the answers are sleepy and toaster, they read: “The sleepy astronaut arrived riding a toaster.”

Some labels ask for a whole phrase rather than one word. For “[silly headline],” for example, a player might suggest “Local Cat Elected Mayor.” Use the answer as given unless the player wants help changing its form to fit the blank.

Which prompts should you try?

Each group contains ten original sentences. Pick a situation your group likes, or let the picker choose from all 40. The reader should keep the chosen sentence hidden while asking for words.

  • Ridiculous arrivals: unexpected visitors and entrances, from an astronaut riding something unexpected to an animal landing a spaceship in the backyard.
  • Party problems: cakes, balloons, gifts and party mishaps. One sentence asks what everyone uses when the plates run out.
  • Wild adventures: jungles, treasure maps, dragons and a sea made of a liquid supplied by a player.
  • Unexpected endings: surprising prizes, a robot saving the day and a newspaper headline the group invents.

Use Print all 40 beside the picker for paper copies, or use your browser’s print command. Keep the unfilled sentences available so you can play again with different answers.

What if someone gets stuck?

Keep jokes kind and skip personal topics. The prompts are family-clean; ask players to keep their answers that way too. For the blank that asks for a person in the room, use a fictional character instead if naming a guest would make them uncomfortable.

If a player cannot think of a word, give a word-type example or let them pass. Ask the next player for that blank. If nobody offers an answer after one trip around the group, the reader can offer a neutral word or skip the sentence. Count a skipped sentence as a turn and move on; nobody has to keep trying until someone succeeds.

Helping with a word is different from rewriting someone’s joke. Keep an unusual answer when it fits the requested word type. A player who prefers listening can stay in the group without supplying words or reading.

When should you finish the round?

Use the ending you agreed on: after every willing reader has had one turn, or when the 10–15-minute timer ends. If the timer sounds during a sentence, finish reading it if the group wants to, then stop. If everyone passes, end the round rather than requiring a completed sentence.

To play again, clear the previous answers, choose a new sentence and let the next willing reader start. You can reuse a sentence with different words; the picker chooses a prompt, not the answers that fill its blanks.

What could you play next?

If the group still wants words but would like to keep score, try Scattergories lists. Read the Scattergories categories advice on close answers before starting so everyone knows how disputed answers will be settled.

For a change from writing, use Pictionary words for drawing or charades words for acting. Let players pass in either game. If you want to put the paper away altogether, browse no-supplies party games for the next activity.

For a longer party, the party games guide can help you choose activities for the guests’ ages, available space and energy. The games and question packs index is useful when you want another ready list of prompts instead.

Common Mad Libs questions

How do you play Mad Libs?

One reader keeps the sentence hidden, asks for each bracketed word type and writes the answers in order. Read the filled-in sentence aloud, then give the next reader a turn. Players may pass.

How many people can play Mad Libs?

Use these prompts with 2–20 players. With two people, alternate reading and supplying words. In a larger group, take answers in seating order or let teams supply words in turn.

What ages are these story prompts for?

These family-clean prompts are best for ages 8 and up. Give word-type examples or have an adult read and write for a child who needs help.

Can I print these Mad Libs prompts?

Yes. Use Print all 40 beside the picker, or your browser print command. Party Whammy created these prompts independently and is not affiliated with the Mad Libs brand or its publisher.

How long should a round last?

Try 10–15 minutes, or finish after each willing reader has had one turn. Agree on the ending before you start; skipped sentences count as turns so the round can finish even if nobody supplies a word.