Thanksgiving word games in one pack
Print a word scramble, prepare a word search, race through the alphabet, decode a Thanksgiving message and finish with hangman. The word cards above provide clues and caller words; the five game sheets below include spaces to write and keys for the host. Play in teams of two or three, or solve the puzzles together around the table.
Print and prepare the games
The word search needs to be filled in before you make player copies. The other games can be played from the cards, worksheets and keys here. “Sheet 1” through “Sheet 5” identify the games, not a fixed five-page download. Browser printing may use more pages. The keys are separate, readable sections; they are not automatically printed upside down.
- Print a proof copy with the print control above or your browser’s Print command. Check the grid, tables and writing spaces in the preview.
- Fill the word-search grid and mark every answer on a separate host copy before copying it for players.
- Make one set per team of two or three, plus two spare sets if useful. Twelve players need four sets in teams of three or six sets in pairs.
- Keep the host keys separate. Cover them, cut them away after printing or select only player pages in the print dialog where possible.
- Put out one pencil per player, a timer and a clipboard for the host keys. Write team names on the sheets.
Plain paper works; card stock is optional. Try half-inch margins in the print settings, then check your printer’s preview. For organizing player copies and helper notes, see printable party games.
You can try a proof set a week before, make final copies three days before and separate the keys the day before. Suggested ages are a starting point: pair children who are not reading yet with a reader, and let teammates take turns solving and writing.
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Sheet 1: Thanksgiving word scramble
Give teams 8 minutes to solve as many of the 24 scrambles as they can. Each card above includes a clue, and the letter counts are repeated here. Award one point per correct answer. Check unfinished words together after time is up rather than leaving players without the answers.
Team: ____________________
| No. | Scramble | Letters | Your answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RUYEKT | 6 | ____________________ |
| 2 | GINTSUFF | 8 | ____________________ |
| 3 | VARYG | 5 | ____________________ |
| 4 | BERRYCARN | 9 | ____________________ |
| 5 | KINPUMP | 7 | ____________________ |
| 6 | EIP | 3 | ____________________ |
| 7 | PICORNUCOAC | 10 | ____________________ |
| 8 | ZEIMA | 5 | ____________________ |
| 9 | SHARVET | 7 | ____________________ |
| 10 | FLOWERAMY | 9 | ____________________ |
| 11 | GRIMPIL | 7 | ____________________ |
| 12 | DAREPA | 6 | ____________________ |
| 13 | FATES | 5 | ____________________ |
| 14 | HANKFULT | 8 | ____________________ |
| 15 | HANGERTIG | 9 | ____________________ |
| 16 | CRON | 4 | ____________________ |
| 17 | QUASSH | 6 | ____________________ |
| 18 | NOSEWHIB | 8 | ____________________ |
| 19 | CARON | 5 | ____________________ |
| 20 | BREMNOVE | 8 | ____________________ |
| 21 | MAY | 3 | ____________________ |
| 22 | BLEAT | 5 | ____________________ |
| 23 | MUDSTRIKC | 9 | ____________________ |
| 24 | LOVESFERT | 9 | ____________________ |
Scramble answer key
Keep this key with the host.
- RUYEKT → TURKEY
- GINTSUFF → STUFFING
- VARYG → GRAVY
- BERRYCARN → CRANBERRY
- KINPUMP → PUMPKIN
- EIP → PIE
- PICORNUCOAC → CORNUCOPIA
- ZEIMA → MAIZE
- SHARVET → HARVEST
- FLOWERAMY → MAYFLOWER
- GRIMPIL → PILGRIM
- DAREPA → PARADE
- FATES → FEAST
- HANKFULT → THANKFUL
- HANGERTIG → GATHERING
- CRON → CORN
- QUASSH → SQUASH
- NOSEWHIB → WISHBONE
- CARON → ACORN
- BREMNOVE → NOVEMBER
- MAY → YAM
- BLEAT → TABLE
- MUDSTRIKC → DRUMSTICK
- LOVESFERT → LEFTOVERS
If you need activities for a longer wait before dinner, Thanksgiving games while the turkey cooks includes craft, game and paper-activity areas you can prepare ahead.
Sheet 2: Make the word search
Hide these 14 words in the blank 12-by-12 grid: TURKEY, STUFFING, GRAVY, CRANBERRY, PUMPKIN, HARVEST, PILGRIM, MAIZE, FEAST, THANKFUL, WISHBONE, ACORN, DRUMSTICK and MAYFLOWER.
Write one letter per square, across, down or diagonally. For players under eight, start with forward words only. Words may share matching letters; for example, MAYFLOWER and FEAST can share an A. Try two overlapping pairs if you like, but do not force an overlap that makes a word impossible to place.
Place each bank word once, fill empty squares with random letters and check that fillers have not accidentally repeated a bank word. Circle all 14 words on a separate host copy before making player copies. Allow about 15 minutes for preparation and 10 minutes for play; take more preparation time if the layout needs it.
Team: ____________________
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
Player word bank: TURKEY · STUFFING · GRAVY · CRANBERRY · PUMPKIN · HARVEST · PILGRIM · MAIZE · FEAST · THANKFUL · WISHBONE · ACORN · DRUMSTICK · MAYFLOWER
Word-search host key
The answers depend on where you place the words. Keep your circled copy as the key and record the locations below if another person will check answers. Use row and column numbers, counting from the top left.
| Word | Start row/column | End row/column |
|---|---|---|
| TURKEY | __________ | __________ |
| STUFFING | __________ | __________ |
| GRAVY | __________ | __________ |
| CRANBERRY | __________ | __________ |
| PUMPKIN | __________ | __________ |
| HARVEST | __________ | __________ |
| PILGRIM | __________ | __________ |
| MAIZE | __________ | __________ |
| FEAST | __________ | __________ |
| THANKFUL | __________ | __________ |
| WISHBONE | __________ | __________ |
| ACORN | __________ | __________ |
| DRUMSTICK | __________ | __________ |
| MAYFLOWER | __________ | __________ |
For children who prefer finding pictures to finding letters, the Thanksgiving picture-search pack describes scenes and search prompts. Check its preparation requirements before choosing it as an alternative.
Sheet 3: A-to-Z race
Set a five-minute timer. Shuffle the letter cards, call one letter and read its hint aloud. The first team to write an accepted answer earns one point. Use the host examples below, and accept other answers that clearly fit Thanksgiving and the called letter. If teams finish together, give each a point.
Each team may request one letter swap per game. Keep three unused letter cards aside for swaps; return any unused reserves to the deck if needed. Stop at five minutes or when all letters have been played, whichever comes first. The highest score wins; equal scores share the win.
Explain the X exception before starting: “extra slice” counts because it contains X, although it starts with E. For an optional bonus, ask players to underline the X and award one additional point for doing so.
Teams: ____________________ / ____________________
Timer: ______ minutes Scores: ______ / ______
| Letter | Team 1 answer | Team 2 answer |
|---|---|---|
| A | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| B | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| C | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| D | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| E | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| F | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| G | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| H | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| I | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| J | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| K | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| L | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| M | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| N | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| O | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| P | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| Q | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| R | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| S | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| T | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| U | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| V | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| W | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| X | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| Y | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| Z | ____________________ | ____________________ |
A-to-Z race host key
These are accepted examples, not the only possible answers.
| Letter | Accepted examples |
|---|---|
| A | acorn, autumn, America |
| B | baster, bread, bake |
| C | corn, cranberry, casserole |
| D | dinner, dressing, drumstick |
| E | ears of corn, eat |
| F | feast, family, football |
| G | gravy, gather, gourd |
| H | harvest, ham, holiday |
| I | invite; Indian corn is also an answer in the original list |
| J | jellied cranberries, jug of cider |
| K | kernels, kitchen, kids’ table |
| L | leftovers, leaf, loaf |
| M | maize, Mayflower, mashed potatoes |
| N | November, napkin |
| O | oven, olives |
| P | pumpkin, pie, parade |
| Q | quick bread, quiet before carving |
| R | rolls, roast, recipe |
| S | stuffing, squash, sweet potato |
| T | turkey, table, thankful |
| U | utensils, uncle’s famous pie |
| V | vegetables, vase for the centerpiece |
| W | wishbone, whip the cream |
| X | eXtra slice: the hidden-letter exception |
| Y | yam, yard game after dinner |
| Z | zigzag parade streamers, zero leftovers |
For another written round, Thanksgiving category game sheets use one letter across several categories. If the race is too noisy for your gathering, skip the speed scoring or try another quiet party game.
Sheet 4: Decode the Thanksgiving message
Each plain letter has one coded replacement. To decode, find a puzzle letter in a Code row and write the Plain letter above it. For example, coded U becomes G. You can show both key bars from the start or reveal one bar at a time for a harder puzzle.
Team: ____________________
| Plain | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Q | W | E | R | T | Y | U | I | O | P | L | K | J |
| Plain | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | H | G | F | D | S | A | Z | X | C | V | B | N | M |
Coded message:
UGGR YGGR, UGGR FTGFKT, ZIQHLYXK ITQSZA
Write one decoded letter on each blank:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _,
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _,
Cipher answer key
GOOD FOOD, GOOD PEOPLE, THANKFUL HEARTS.
Check each word against the bars. Let players finish together if they get stuck; the decoded line can also be read as a short toast.
Sheet 5: Hangman for three age groups
Pick a word that suits the youngest guesser. The ages below are suggestions, and players can try a different tier. The caller keeps the chosen word hidden and draws one blank per letter, leaving gaps between words.
Players guess one letter at a time. Fill every matching blank when a guess is correct, and cross that letter off the alphabet strip. Count each new letter guess toward a ten-guess limit; repeated guesses do not use another turn. Stop when the word is solved or ten guesses have been made, then reveal the answer.
The team that solves the word can call the next one from the tier below its own. A tier 1 team stays in tier 1. If nobody solves it, pass the caller role to another willing player.
Hangman caller words
| Tier | Suggested ages | Words and letter counts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4–6, with help as needed | PIE (3), YAM (3), CORN (4), ACORN (5) |
| 2 | 7–9 | GRAVY (5), MAIZE (5), PARADE (6), GOBBLE (6) |
| 3 | 10+ | PUMPKIN PIE (10), TURKEY TROT (10), WISHBONE WINNER (14), LEFTOVER SANDWICH (16) |
Hangman player spaces
Use as many blanks as the chosen word needs; cross out unused ones. Copy this section for more rounds. The caller’s word stays on the host copy.
Tier 1 · Team: ____________________
Word: _ _ _ _ _
Letters: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Guesses used: □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □
Tier 2 · Team: ____________________
Word: _ _ _ _ _ _
Letters: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Guesses used: □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □
Tier 3 · Team: ____________________
Word: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Letters: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Guesses used: □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □
Move the gap between words to suit the chosen phrase. For example, TURKEY TROT needs six blanks, a space and four blanks.
An example with 38 minutes of games
Here is one way to divide 38 minutes of playing time across the afternoon. The elapsed times below count game time only; meals, breaks and handing out sheets are extra. The cipher and hangman share 15 minutes, which you can divide differently.
- 0:00–0:08 · Word scramble — 8 minutes. Start as guests settle at the table. Check answers when the timer ends.
- 0:08–0:18 · Word search — 10 minutes. Hand out the prepared grid and let teams circle the bank words.
- 0:18–0:23 · A-to-Z race — 5 minutes. Save this round for a gap between courses if that suits dinner.
- 0:23–0:31 · Cipher — 8 minutes. Decode together and read the finished message.
- 0:31–0:38 · Hangman — 7 minutes. Play a few words, stopping at the end of a word when possible.
You do not need to play every game in one sitting. For other ways to arrange activities before and after dinner, see Thanksgiving games for the family.
More Thanksgiving activities and holiday word games
If younger guests want their own activity, Thanksgiving picture bingo uses picture calls instead of spelling answers. Someone still needs to call and show the pictures. A disguise-a-turkey craft gives children something to draw or decorate; prepare the turkey outlines and supplies before starting.
For guests who would rather perform than solve another puzzle, Thanksgiving acting cards offer short charades turns. Let players pick the kind of prompt they want rather than requiring everyone to act.
For another holiday, the Halloween word-game pack and Christmas word-game pack provide seasonal scrambles, word searches and other word games. Use their own word lists and keys rather than reusing the Thanksgiving answers.
Thanksgiving word-game questions
What can I print from this page?
You can print the word cards, five labelled game worksheets, preparation instructions and host keys. The worksheets include writing spaces and a blank word-search grid. Browser printing may use more than five pages; check the preview and separate host answers from player copies.
Do I have to make the word-search grid myself?
Yes. Place the 14 bank words in the blank 12-by-12 grid, fill the remaining squares and mark a separate host copy before making player copies. Allow about 15 minutes for preparation, with more time if you need to rearrange words.
How much playing time should I allow?
The example gives the scramble 8 minutes, word search 10, race 5 and cipher plus hangman 15: 38 minutes altogether. Handing out sheets, checking answers and taking breaks add time. Play fewer games if dinner is ready sooner.
What happens when a team gets stuck on a race letter?
Each team may request one swap per game. Keep three unused letter cards aside for replacements. Explain before play that X allows the hidden letter in “extra slice”; other answers should begin with their called letter.
How do children of different ages share the games?
Pair a child who is not reading yet with a reader, read clues aloud and let teammates take turns writing. Use the easiest hangman words with help where needed. If word puzzles are frustrating, offer picture bingo or a drawing activity instead of expecting everyone to finish the same sheet.