Thanksgiving category game sheets
Print the three groups of categories and the answer sheets below, draw one letter, and give everyone three minutes to think of answers. Every answer must start with that letter, and matching answers score zero. You can play individually or in teams, with an adult writing for anyone who needs help. Between courses, use the same categories for a spoken game without pencils.
Get the game ready
For 4–24 guests, decide whether everyone will write independently or share a sheet with a partner. Allow about 20 minutes to prepare copies, pencils and the letter cup. You will need paper, a printer, pencils, a cup and a timer.
- Print all three category groups using the category pack’s print control. Keep each list beside its matching answer sheet.
- Print one set of three answer sheets per player or team, plus spares. For 12 individual players, that means 36 answer sheets; six pairs need 18.
- Keep one copy of the host sample answers and rules where the caller can find it.
- Put a pencil at each writing place and check that everyone can see or hear the categories.
- Cut and fold 20 letter slips, leaving out Q, U, V, X, Y and Z.
- Set the timer for three minutes, or five if players will need reading or writing help.
- Ask someone to read answers aloud, settle challenges and keep the scores.
Keep the helper’s rules with the copies rather than in a separate message. The printable party games guide has more suggestions for organizing game materials and host notes.
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Print three answer sheets
Each category group above has eight entries. Row 1 below answers the first category in its group, row 2 answers the second, and so on. Keep the category list visible while guests write. These are printable rows on this page, rather than a separate downloadable file.
The Feast answer sheet
Name or team: ______________________________
Round letter: __________ Round number: __________
| Category number | Your answer | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 2 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 3 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 4 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 5 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 6 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 7 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 8 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
Sheet total: __________ / 8
Around the Table answer sheet
Name or team: ______________________________
Round letter: __________ Round number: __________
| Category number | Your answer | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 2 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 3 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 4 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 5 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 6 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 7 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 8 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
Sheet total: __________ / 8
Parade and Couch answer sheet
Name or team: ______________________________
Round letter: __________ Round number: __________
| Category number | Your answer | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 2 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 3 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 4 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 5 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 6 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 7 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
| 8 | ____________________________________ | ______ |
Sheet total: __________ / 8
Keep the three-round scores together
| Player or team | The Feast | Around the Table | Parade and Couch | Total / 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| __________________ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| __________________ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| __________________ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| __________________ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| __________________ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| __________________ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Print extra score rows if more people are playing individually. Someone who would rather match pictures than write answers could join Thanksgiving picture bingo. For children who enjoy looking for objects, the Thanksgiving picture-search pack describes a drawing-based alternative with two difficulty bands.
Draw a letter and set the timer
Put these 20 letters in the cup:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, W.
Leave out Q, U, V, X, Y and Z. Draw one slip for each written round and write the letter clearly on every answer sheet. All eight answers must start with it. Leave a row blank if you cannot think of an answer; you do not need to fill every row to score points.
Allow three minutes for confident writers or five minutes when players need help reading or writing. Call halfway and give a ten-second warning. An adult can read the categories or write down a child’s spoken answers.
If you have no slips, roll two dice and count from A using the total: 2 gives B, 7 gives G and 12 gives L. This is a smaller selection, B through L, rather than a replacement for all 20 letters in the cup.
Agree on the redraw rule before starting: redraw only if the whole table agrees that nobody can think of answers for at least five of the eight categories. The on-page picker selects a category, not a starting letter; use it for the spoken version below.
Read the answers and add the scores
When time is up, stop writing and read answers one category at a time. Give one point for an answer that fits the category, starts with the round letter and is different from everyone else’s answer to that category. If two or more players or teams give the same answer, all those matching answers score zero. Blank rows also score zero.
For example, with P as the letter and “Types of pie” as the category, two teams writing “pumpkin pie” both score zero. A team writing “pecan pie” scores one if nobody else wrote it. Matching answers cancel within the same category; using a word in another category does not automatically cancel it.
The host settles challenges, and that decision stands for the round. Add each sheet’s score, then add the three sheet totals. The highest total wins, with a maximum of 24 points per player or team.
For a larger table, pairs can discuss and submit one shared set of answers. Our large-group party games guide has other examples of arranging guests in small teams if you want another game afterward.
Settle a tie with one extra category
Read a new category to the tied players, such as “Things you would pack for a Thanksgiving visit.” Keep the last round’s letter. The first valid answer shouted wins if nobody else gives the same answer at the same time. If answers match or arrive together, try another category. The host judges the result.
Sample answers for the host
The category numbers below match the order in each group above. These are examples of answers that fit, not an exhaustive answer key. They use different starting letters, so they are not a completed round for one drawn letter. Keep them on the host copy and accept other answers that meet the rules.
| Category number | The Feast example | Around the Table example | Parade and Couch example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stuffing | Peter Pan | Marching band |
| 2 | Pecan pie | Friendship | A giant Snoopy balloon |
| 3 | Sweet potato casserole | “How is school?” | Quarterback |
| 4 | Turkey sandwiches | Napkins | Remote control |
| 5 | Roasting vegetables | Roasting | Playing cards |
| 6 | Plain rolls | Washing dishes | Pumpkins |
| 7 | Mashed potatoes | Laughter | Bear |
| 8 | Dinner rolls | “I need the bathroom.” | Pumpkin soup |
Some categories depend on the family: a picky eater’s choice or a food that disappears first will vary. Ask the player to explain an unfamiliar answer rather than treating these examples as the only correct choices.
Play between courses without pencils
Once the plates are cleared, split the table into two teams. The host can read from the printed category lists or use the category picker. This version does not require a starting letter.
- Read one category aloud and start a 30-second timer.
- Teams alternate giving one answer at a time.
- Give one point for each new answer that fits. A repeat scores zero and passes the turn; a team may also pass if it is stuck.
- When the timer ends, read another category and keep the running scores.
- Stop when one team reaches 10 points, or when dessert arrives. If you stop early, the higher score wins; equal scores can share the win.
For example, “Foods in a traditional Thanksgiving dinner” might produce turkey, stuffing, potatoes and rolls. No writing is needed, so pre-readers can answer alongside adults. Let someone pass rather than making every guest speak.
The Thanksgiving family games page includes this seated format alongside other holiday games. If shouting would interrupt the meal or bother guests, take turns speaking at an ordinary volume or try one of the quiet party games.
Team one: __________________ Score: __________
Team two: __________________ Score: __________
An example round and times to play
Here is an eight-minute example for one written sheet with confident writers. The writing time is three minutes; explaining and scoring take the other five. A five-minute writing round makes the same example ten minutes. Larger tables may need longer to read answers aloud.
- 0:00–1:00 · Read the categories and draw a letter. Write the letter on the sheets and answer any rule questions.
- 1:00–4:00 · Write answers. Call halfway at 2:30 and give the ten-second warning at 3:50.
- 4:00–7:00 · Read and score. Go through the eight categories, cross out matching answers and mark valid unique answers.
- 7:00–8:00 · Add the totals. Record the score and put the next sheet nearby. A tiebreak, if needed after all three sheets, takes extra time.
You do not have to play all three rounds together. For a 1:00 p.m. dinner, you could bring out Parade and Couch around 11:30 a.m., place The Feast sheets face down at the seats around 12:45 p.m., play a spoken round around 2:15 p.m., and save Around the Table for 3:30 p.m. pie time. These are suggested placements, not a continuous game schedule. Start each round when serving and conversation allow it.
If children need things to do for a longer stretch, Thanksgiving activities while the turkey cooks explains how to arrange crafts, familiar games and paper activities, with someone available to help.
Other activities before dinner
Keep one other activity nearby for guests who finish early or want a change. The Thanksgiving word-game pack describes scrambles, a word search and other word puzzles for readers. Check its preparation instructions before printing so you know which sheets need host setup.
For a longer hands-on activity, disguise-a-turkey crafts supplies costume ideas and preparation guidance. You will need to print or draw turkey bases separately; the disguise cards are ideas rather than an outline download. Prepare the craft in a space where guests can leave their work when dinner is ready.
Thanksgiving category game questions
Which letters should go in the cup?
Use 20 letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T and W. Leave out Q, U, V, X, Y and Z. No letter is guaranteed to produce an answer for every category.
How long should a written round last?
Allow three minutes for confident writers or five minutes when players need help reading or writing. Call halfway and give a ten-second warning. Allow separate time to read and score the answers.
Do matching answers score any points?
No. If two or more players or teams give the same answer for the same category, each matching answer scores zero. Each unique answer that fits the category and starts with the round letter scores one point.
Can we play without pencils?
Yes. Split into two teams, read one category and alternate answers for 30 seconds. Each new answer scores one point; repeats score zero. Keep the scores across categories and stop when a team reaches 10 points or dessert arrives. This version does not require a starting letter.
Can younger children join in?
Readers around age 6 and up can try writing their own answers. Children ages 5 and 6 may prefer an adult partner, and pre-readers can dictate answers or join the spoken version. Adjust the help to the child rather than treating the ages as requirements.