Word Games for Seniors: 24 Games With 74 Ready-Made Rounds

Deal one word game with its round already written, so the leader has the lines to read and the answers beside them at once.

Word Games for Seniors: 24 Games With 74 Ready-Made Rounds

  1. Finish the saying: more sayingsSpoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. These are everyday expressions with the last word missing. Read each one, pause, and let the group fill it in. Then ask what the saying means, which often starts the better conversation. Ready round: One word finishes each. 1. Raining cats and ... dogs. 2. Spill the ... beans. 3. It cost an arm and a ... leg. 4. Beat around the ... bush. 5. Pulling my ... leg. 6. A blessing in ... disguise. 7. The ball is in your ... court. 8. Back to the drawing ... board. 9. Bury the ... hatchet. 10. Sleep like a ... log.
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Word Games for Seniors: 24 Games With 74 Ready-Made Rounds: how it works

These word games for seniors come with the round already written. Press New round and the phone deals one of 24 games with everything the leader reads out: 40 proverbs to finish, word chains, rhymes, opposites and 12 long words with answer lists. Each of the 74 rounds says whether it is spoken, written on a whiteboard or done on paper, how long it runs and how many can play.

Run a round from one phone

Press New round and one game comes up with its round underneath: the format, about how long it takes, the group size, how to play, then the numbered lines with the answers beside them. Only the leader needs the phone. Read each line aloud and stop at the dots, because what follows them is the answer. Tap Spoken, nothing needed when the room has no board, Whiteboard or flip chart when it has one, or Print or pen and paper for table work. No round comes back until the rest of its group has had a turn. To plan a session, change the count to 3, Lock the rounds you like and Swap the others.

How the games are played, gently

Every round is written for the whole room to answer together, so nobody is called on alone and nobody is out. For a score, split the room in two and give a point per answer. A single word game for seniors runs 8 to 15 minutes, so three rounds fill a session with time left to talk. Several lines have more than one good ending and the round lists the extras, so take any fair answer. Rules for old parlor games such as the word chain and the word ladder vary from house to house. Ours are the gentle versions: help is allowed, and a stalled chain borrows its next word from the list.

The printed list and what the phone remembers

All 74 rounds are printed in full below the tool, in the same three groups, so you can read ahead. Print puts the rounds on screen onto paper under the page heading. The type is ordinary size, so for large print raise the scale in your browser's print box first. Copy takes a round's name only, while the heart saves the whole round, answers included, to your Saved page on this phone. Share makes a link that opens the same rounds for a co-leader. The group you tapped stays in the page address, so a bookmark opens straight onto it.

Tips

  • Read each opening line twice, then count to five in your head before you give the ending.
  • In a big room, stand where people can see your face, and repeat each answer so nobody misses it.
  • On a whiteboard, write capitals as tall as your hand in black or dark blue, with wide gaps between letters.
  • After Finish the proverb, ask who said it at home and what it meant. The stories often outlast the round.
  • Leave a long word on the board through coffee. People keep finding words, and ones missing from our list still count.

Questions and answers

What are good word games for seniors in a group?

Games that run on voices work best, because nobody has to read small print or write quickly. Finish the proverb, famous pairs, opposites, rhyme time and the alphabet shopping list need only a leader, and all five are here with rounds ready to read. For more to do from a chair, see party games for seniors.

Do I need to print anything?

No. 49 of the 74 rounds can be played by voice alone, and the rest need only a whiteboard, a flip chart or paper and a pen. If you want a sheet in hand, press Print with the round on screen, and set a larger scale in the print box if the group will read from it. The hidden word and take a letter away rounds suit a handout best.

Where do the proverbs and tongue twisters come from?

They are traditional, so nobody owns them, but the wording drifts. We checked all 40 proverbs against Wikipedia's list of proverbial phrases, and each tongue twister against Wikipedia's tongue twister article, on September 19, 2026. Your group may know another version, such as a watched kettle in place of a watched pot. Count it. Everything else was written for this page.

How many people can play, and for how long?

Most rounds work for 2 to 20 players, from a visit with one grandparent to a full activity room. The word chain and the hidden words are better with 12 or fewer, and the team spelling bee needs at least 4 to make two teams. Each round says about how long it runs, from 8 to 15 minutes. For something shorter, try one-minute games for seniors, or run a quiz with trivia questions for seniors.

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All 74 rounds

Spoken, nothing needed 49

  • The alphabet shopping list: packing a suitcase Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 12 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Go round the group from A to Z, each person adding one thing that starts with the next letter. In the gentle version nobody repeats the list so far. If a letter stumps someone, the room helps. Ready round: Open with "I am going on a trip and I am packing" and go round from A to Z. Skip X, or take any word with that letter in it. A full list to fall back on: an alarm clock, a book, a camera, dress shoes, earrings, a flashlight, gloves, a hat, an iron, a jacket, keys, lotion, a map, a nightgown, an overcoat, pajamas, a quilt, a raincoat, sunglasses, a toothbrush, an umbrella, a vest, a wallet, yarn, a zipper bag.
  • The alphabet shopping list: the garden center Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 12 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Go round the group from A to Z, each person adding one thing that starts with the next letter. In the gentle version nobody repeats the list so far. If a letter stumps someone, the room helps. Ready round: Open with "I went to the garden center and I bought" and go round from A to Z. Skip Q and U and X, or take any word with that letter in it. A full list to fall back on: asters, begonias, carnations, daffodils, evergreens, ferns, geraniums, hollyhocks, irises, jasmine, kale, lilies, marigolds, nasturtiums, orchids, pansies, roses, sunflowers, tulips, violets, wisteria, yarrow, zinnias.
  • The alphabet shopping list: the grocery store Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 12 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Go round the group from A to Z, each person adding one thing that starts with the next letter. In the gentle version nobody repeats the list so far. If a letter stumps someone, the room helps. Ready round: Open with "I went to the store and I bought" and go round from A to Z. Skip X, or take any word with that letter in it. A full list to fall back on: apples, bread, carrots, doughnuts, eggs, flour, grapes, honey, ice cream, jam, ketchup, lemons, milk, noodles, oranges, potatoes, quiche, rice, sugar, tomatoes, unsalted butter, vanilla, watermelon, yogurt, zucchini.
  • Backwards spelling: at breakfast Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Spell a word backwards, slowly, one letter at a time. The group says the word as soon as they have it. Tell them the theme first. With a whiteboard, write the letters up as you say them. Ready round: The theme is things on a breakfast table. Spell each word backwards, one letter at a time, then repeat it. 1. T S A O T: toast. 2. N O C A B: bacon. 3. E E F F O C: coffee. 4. R E T T U B: butter. 5. L A E R E C: cereal. 6. E G N A R O: orange. 7. N I F F U M: muffin. 8. E L F F A W: waffle. 9. Y E N O H: honey. 10. N O O P S: spoon.
  • Backwards spelling: in the garden Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Spell a word backwards, slowly, one letter at a time. The group says the word as soon as they have it. Tell them the theme first. With a whiteboard, write the letters up as you say them. Ready round: The theme is things in a garden. Spell each word backwards, one letter at a time, then repeat it. 1. R E W O L F: flower. 2. P I L U T: tulip. 3. Y S I A D: daisy. 4. L E V O H S: shovel. 5. H C N E B: bench. 6. N I B O R: robin. 7. E G D E H: hedge. 8. S D E E S: seeds. 9. E C N E F: fence. 10. N E D R A G: garden.
  • Compound word builder: house, book, foot and hand Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Say a short word and ask the group for longer words that begin with it, such as sun and sunflower. Go round until nobody has another, then read any the room missed. Ready round: Give one starter at a time. 1. House: household, housewife, housework, housekeeper, houseboat, houseplant, housecoat. 2. Book: bookcase, bookmark, bookshelf, bookstore, bookworm, bookkeeper. 3. Foot: football, footprint, footstep, footstool, footpath, footwear, foothill. 4. Hand: handbag, handshake, handmade, handwriting, handkerchief, handrail, handbook.
  • Compound word builder: sun, rain, snow and fire Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Say a short word and ask the group for longer words that begin with it, such as sun and sunflower. Go round until nobody has another, then read any the room missed. Ready round: Give one starter at a time. 1. Sun: sunflower, sunshine, sunrise, sunset, sunburn, sunlight, sundial, sunglasses, Sunday. 2. Rain: rainbow, raincoat, raindrop, rainfall, rainstorm, rainwater. 3. Snow: snowman, snowball, snowflake, snowstorm, snowplow, snowshoe, snowdrift. 4. Fire: fireplace, firewood, firefly, fireworks, fireman, fireproof, fireside.
  • Compound word builder: water, back, air and home Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Say a short word and ask the group for longer words that begin with it, such as sun and sunflower. Go round until nobody has another, then read any the room missed. Ready round: Give one starter at a time. 1. Water: waterfall, watermelon, watercolor, waterproof, waterfront, watercress. 2. Back: backyard, backbone, backpack, background, backstage, backfire. 3. Air: airplane, airport, airmail, airline, airtight, aircraft. 4. Home: homemade, homework, homesick, hometown, homeland, homecoming.
  • Crossword clues out loud: in the kitchen Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. A crossword with no grid and no small print. Read each clue twice, with the number of letters and the first letter. The group answers together, or tables take turns. Ready round: Read the clue, the number of letters and the first letter. 1. You boil water in it, 6 letters, starts with K: kettle. 2. It keeps food cold, 12 letters, starts with R: refrigerator. 3. A heavy pan for frying, 7 letters, starts with S: skillet. 4. You drain pasta in it, 8 letters, starts with C: colander. 5. Worn to keep your clothes clean, 5 letters, starts with A: apron. 6. It makes bread rise, 5 letters, starts with Y: yeast. 7. Bees make it, 5 letters, starts with H: honey. 8. A sour yellow fruit, 5 letters, starts with L: lemon. 9. You flip pancakes with it, 7 letters, starts with S: spatula. 10. One piece cut from a loaf, 5 letters, starts with S: slice.
  • Crossword clues out loud: out of doors Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. A crossword with no grid and no small print. Read each clue twice, with the number of letters and the first letter. The group answers together, or tables take turns. Ready round: Read the clue, the number of letters and the first letter. 1. It has a trunk, branches and leaves, 4 letters, starts with T: tree. 2. Seven colors in the sky after rain, 7 letters, starts with R: rainbow. 3. It crows at dawn, 7 letters, starts with R: rooster. 4. Hard frozen rain, 4 letters, starts with H: hail. 5. A bird that hoots at night, 3 letters, starts with O: owl. 6. The season of falling leaves, 6 letters, starts with A: autumn. 7. A small stream, 5 letters, starts with B: brook. 8. It spins a web, 6 letters, starts with S: spider. 9. A paved path beside the road, 8 letters, starts with S: sidewalk. 10. You plant them in spring and they sprout, 5 letters, starts with S: seeds.
  • Crossword clues out loud: people at work Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. A crossword with no grid and no small print. Read each clue twice, with the number of letters and the first letter. The group answers together, or tables take turns. Ready round: Read the clue, the number of letters and the first letter. 1. Bakes bread for a living, 5 letters, starts with B: baker. 2. Flies the plane, 5 letters, starts with P: pilot. 3. Cuts hair and trims beards, 6 letters, starts with B: barber. 4. Looks after your teeth, 7 letters, starts with D: dentist. 5. Brings the letters to your door, 7 letters, starts with M: mailman. 6. Grows crops and keeps animals, 6 letters, starts with F: farmer. 7. Writes books, 6 letters, starts with A: author. 8. Mends leaking pipes, 7 letters, starts with P: plumber. 9. Leads the orchestra, 9 letters, starts with C: conductor. 10. Your mother's mother, 11 letters, starts with G: grandmother.
  • Famous pairs: around the house Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Say the first half of a pair and the word "and", then wait. The group supplies the partner. For a second lap, read the answers and ask for the first halves. Ready round: All of these live somewhere in a house. 1. Needle and ... thread. 2. Lock and ... key. 3. Pots and ... pans. 4. Soap and ... water. 5. Hammer and ... nails. 6. Nuts and ... bolts. 7. Shoes and ... socks. 8. Pen and ... paper. 9. Table and ... chairs. 10. Washer and ... dryer. 11. Brush and ... comb. 12. Hat and ... coat.
  • Famous pairs: at the table Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Say the first half of a pair and the word "and", then wait. The group supplies the partner. For a second lap, read the answers and ask for the first halves. Ready round: All of these belong on a table. 1. Salt and ... pepper. 2. Bread and ... butter. 3. Knife and ... fork. 4. Cup and ... saucer. 5. Bacon and ... eggs. 6. Fish and ... chips. 7. Macaroni and ... cheese. 8. Peaches and ... cream. 9. Peanut butter and ... jelly. 10. Milk and ... cookies. 11. Meat and ... potatoes. 12. Oil and ... vinegar.
  • Famous pairs: out and about Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Say the first half of a pair and the word "and", then wait. The group supplies the partner. For a second lap, read the answers and ask for the first halves. Ready round: These pairs turn up outside the house. 1. Thunder and ... lightning. 2. Hide and ... seek. 3. Bride and ... groom. 4. Ladies and ... gentlemen. 5. Stars and ... stripes. 6. Rock and ... roll. 7. Bow and ... arrow. 8. Cops and ... robbers. 9. King and ... queen. 10. Horse and ... buggy. 11. Cat and ... mouse. 12. Sun and ... moon.
  • Famous pairs: sayings in pairs Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Say the first half of a pair and the word "and", then wait. The group supplies the partner. For a second lap, read the answers and ask for the first halves. Ready round: These pairs are sayings, not things. 1. Safe and ... sound. 2. Odds and ... ends. 3. Thick and ... thin. 4. Rise and ... shine. 5. Lost and ... found. 6. Give and ... take. 7. Wait and ... see. 8. Short and ... sweet. 9. High and ... dry. 10. Sticks and ... stones. 11. Pins and ... needles. 12. Spick and ... span.
  • Finish the proverb: birds and beasts Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read the first half of each proverb and stop. The group calls out the ending together, so nobody is put on the spot. Afterwards, ask which ones people heard most at home. Ready round: Read the start, wait, and let the room finish it. 1. A bird in the hand ... is worth two in the bush. 2. The early bird ... catches the worm. 3. Let sleeping dogs ... lie. 4. When the cat is away, ... the mice will play. 5. Do not count your chickens ... before they are hatched. 6. You can lead a horse to water, ... but you cannot make it drink. 7. Curiosity ... killed the cat. 8. Do not look a gift horse ... in the mouth. 9. Birds of a feather ... flock together. 10. Every dog ... has his day.
  • Finish the proverb: kitchen wisdom Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read the first half of each proverb and stop. The group calls out the ending together, so nobody is put on the spot. Afterwards, ask which ones people heard most at home. Ready round: Read the start, wait, and let the room finish it. 1. A watched pot ... never boils. 2. Too many cooks ... spoil the broth. 3. Do not cry ... over spilled milk. 4. The proof of the pudding ... is in the eating. 5. You cannot have your cake ... and eat it too. 6. Half a loaf ... is better than no bread. 7. Do not put all your eggs ... in one basket. 8. An apple a day ... keeps the doctor away. 9. If you can't stand the heat, ... get out of the kitchen. 10. You cannot make an omelette ... without breaking eggs.
  • Finish the proverb: people and good sense Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read the first half of each proverb and stop. The group calls out the ending together, so nobody is put on the spot. Afterwards, ask which ones people heard most at home. Ready round: Read the start, wait, and let the room finish it. 1. Actions speak ... louder than words. 2. Many hands ... make light work. 3. Two heads ... are better than one. 4. Absence makes ... the heart grow fonder. 5. People who live in glass houses ... should not throw stones. 6. Where there is a will ... there is a way. 7. A penny saved ... is a penny earned. 8. Honesty is ... the best policy. 9. Practice ... makes perfect. 10. Look before ... you leap.
  • Finish the proverb: time and weather Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read the first half of each proverb and stop. The group calls out the ending together, so nobody is put on the spot. Afterwards, ask which ones people heard most at home. Ready round: Read the start, wait, and let the room finish it. 1. A stitch in time ... saves nine. 2. Make hay ... while the sun shines. 3. Every cloud ... has a silver lining. 4. It never rains ... but it pours. 5. Rome wasn't built ... in a day. 6. Time and tide ... wait for no man. 7. Never put off until tomorrow ... what you can do today. 8. Lightning never strikes twice ... in the same place. 9. Better late ... than never. 10. Strike while ... the iron is hot.
  • Finish the saying: everyday sayings Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. These are everyday expressions with the last word missing. Read each one, pause, and let the group fill it in. Then ask what the saying means, which often starts the better conversation. Ready round: One word finishes each. 1. Let the cat out of the ... bag. 2. Once in a blue ... moon. 3. Bite the ... bullet. 4. Barking up the wrong ... tree. 5. A piece of ... cake. 6. Under the ... weather. 7. Hit the nail on the ... head. 8. Break the ... ice. 9. The best thing since sliced ... bread. 10. Burn the midnight ... oil.
  • Finish the saying: more sayings Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. These are everyday expressions with the last word missing. Read each one, pause, and let the group fill it in. Then ask what the saying means, which often starts the better conversation. Ready round: One word finishes each. 1. Raining cats and ... dogs. 2. Spill the ... beans. 3. It cost an arm and a ... leg. 4. Beat around the ... bush. 5. Pulling my ... leg. 6. A blessing in ... disguise. 7. The ball is in your ... court. 8. Back to the drawing ... board. 9. Bury the ... hatchet. 10. Sleep like a ... log.
  • Finish the simile: a mixed bag Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read each comparison up to the last word and let the group finish it. Several have more than one well-worn ending, so take any answer the room agrees on. Ready round: These are a little harder. 1. As white as ... snow. 2. As clear as a ... bell. 3. As right as ... rain. 4. As tough as ... nails. 5. As old as the ... hills. 6. As snug as a bug in a ... rug. 7. As thin as a ... rail. 8. As hungry as a ... wolf, or a bear. 9. As quick as a ... wink, or a flash. 10. As sweet as ... honey, or sugar.
  • Finish the simile: animals Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read each comparison up to the last word and let the group finish it. Several have more than one well-worn ending, so take any answer the room agrees on. Ready round: Every answer is an animal. 1. As busy as a ... bee. 2. As blind as a ... bat. 3. As quiet as a ... mouse. 4. As stubborn as a ... mule. 5. As proud as a ... peacock. 6. As sly as a ... fox. 7. As wise as an ... owl. 8. As strong as an ... ox. 9. As gentle as a ... lamb. 10. As free as a ... bird.
  • Finish the simile: around the house Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read each comparison up to the last word and let the group finish it. Several have more than one well-worn ending, so take any answer the room agrees on. Ready round: Every answer is a thing you could pick up. 1. As cool as a ... cucumber. 2. As light as a ... feather. 3. As flat as a ... pancake. 4. As fresh as a ... daisy. 5. As good as ... gold. 6. As easy as ... pie. 7. As pretty as a ... picture. 8. As sharp as a ... tack. 9. As dry as a ... bone. 10. As neat as a ... pin.
  • Flocks, herds and bunches: animals Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read the start of each group name and let the room finish it. Some have more than one right answer, and the extra ones are given after the first. Ready round: Every answer is a creature. 1. A pride of ... lions. 2. A flock of ... sheep, or birds. 3. A herd of ... cattle, or elephants. 4. A school of ... fish. 5. A swarm of ... bees. 6. A pack of ... wolves, or dogs. 7. A litter of ... puppies, or kittens. 8. A gaggle of ... geese. 9. A colony of ... ants. 10. A pod of ... whales, or dolphins.
  • Flocks, herds and bunches: people and things Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read the start of each group name and let the room finish it. Some have more than one right answer, and the extra ones are given after the first. Ready round: No animals this time. 1. A bunch of ... grapes, bananas or flowers. 2. A deck of ... cards. 3. A fleet of ... ships. 4. A flight of ... stairs. 5. A chest of ... drawers. 6. A loaf of ... bread. 7. A string of ... pearls. 8. A range of ... mountains. 9. A choir of ... singers. 10. A panel of ... judges.
  • Letter by letter word guess: on the farm Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 12 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Think of the word and tell the group its theme and how many letters it has. Players call out letters. For each hit, say where it goes: "E is the second letter and the fifth." Nothing is drawn and nobody is out. With a whiteboard, write the blanks large and fill them in. Ready round: The theme is things on a farm. Say the number of letters before each word. 1. tractor, 7 letters. 2. rooster, 7 letters. 3. haystack, 8 letters. 4. orchard, 7 letters. 5. scarecrow, 9 letters. 6. pasture, 7 letters. 7. stable, 6 letters. 8. harvest, 7 letters.
  • Letter by letter word guess: the sewing box Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 12 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Think of the word and tell the group its theme and how many letters it has. Players call out letters. For each hit, say where it goes: "E is the second letter and the fifth." Nothing is drawn and nobody is out. With a whiteboard, write the blanks large and fill them in. Ready round: The theme is things in a sewing box. Say the number of letters before each word. 1. needle, 6 letters. 2. thread, 6 letters. 3. button, 6 letters. 4. thimble, 7 letters. 5. scissors, 8 letters. 6. ribbon, 6 letters. 7. zipper, 6 letters. 8. bobbin, 6 letters.
  • One letter, five answers: B, M and S Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Name a letter, then ask for five things that start with it, one kind at a time. The whole group works as one team and any answer that fits is a good one. Ready round: For each letter ask for a food, an animal, a place, a first name and something in a kitchen. One answer of each kind, in case the room is stuck. B: banana, bear, Boston, Betty, bowl. M: muffin, moose, Maine, Martha, mug. S: soup, seal, Spain, Samuel, spoon.
  • One letter, five answers: C, P and T Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Name a letter, then ask for five things that start with it, one kind at a time. The whole group works as one team and any answer that fits is a good one. Ready round: For each letter ask for a food, an animal, a place, a first name and something in a kitchen. One answer of each kind, in case the room is stuck. C: cheese, camel, Chicago, Carol, cup. P: pear, pig, Paris, Paul, pan. T: toast, tiger, Texas, Thelma, teapot.
  • One letter, five answers: R, D and L Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Name a letter, then ask for five things that start with it, one kind at a time. The whole group works as one team and any answer that fits is a good one. Ready round: For each letter ask for a food, an animal, a place, a first name and something in a kitchen. One answer of each kind, in case the room is stuck. R: rice, rabbit, Rome, Ruth, rolling pin. D: doughnut, deer, Denver, Doris, dish. L: lemon, lion, London, Louis, ladle.
  • Opposites: a step up Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Call a word and the group calls back its opposite. Keep a steady pace and take any fair answer. With a large group, split the room in two and alternate sides. Ready round: Longer words, same idea. 1. Ancient: modern. 2. Generous: stingy. 3. Arrive: depart, or leave. 4. Shallow: deep. 5. Borrow: lend. 6. Victory: defeat. 7. Rough: smooth. 8. Sharp: dull, or blunt. 9. Expand: shrink. 10. Accept: refuse, or reject. 11. Entrance: exit. 12. Temporary: permanent.
  • Opposites: a warm-up Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Call a word and the group calls back its opposite. Keep a steady pace and take any fair answer. With a large group, split the room in two and alternate sides. Ready round: Short, everyday words. 1. Hot: cold. 2. Up: down. 3. Open: closed, or shut. 4. Early: late. 5. Wet: dry. 6. Full: empty. 7. Young: old. 8. Heavy: light. 9. Fast: slow. 10. Day: night. 11. Push: pull. 12. Laugh: cry.
  • Opposites: the tricky ones Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Call a word and the group calls back its opposite. Keep a steady pace and take any fair answer. With a large group, split the room in two and alternate sides. Ready round: Expect a debate or two. 1. Humble: proud. 2. Scarce: plentiful. 3. Brave: cowardly. 4. Guilty: innocent. 5. Maximum: minimum. 6. Optimist: pessimist. 7. Ascend: descend. 8. Import: export. 9. Vague: clear. 10. Transparent: opaque. 11. Bless: curse. 12. Hero: villain.
  • Rhyme time: cake, light, ring and bell Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Say a word and go round the group, each person adding a word that rhymes. Spelling does not matter, only the sound. When the rhymes dry up, read out any on the list that nobody found. Ready round: Give one word at a time and go round until the rhymes run dry. 1. Cake: bake, lake, make, rake, take, wake, shake, snake, steak, break, flake, mistake. 2. Light: bright, fight, kite, night, right, sight, tight, white, bite, height, write, delight. 3. Ring: king, sing, wing, bring, spring, string, swing, thing, sting. 4. Bell: fell, sell, tell, well, shell, smell, spell, yell, hotel, farewell.
  • Rhyme time: day, moon, chair and gold Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Say a word and go round the group, each person adding a word that rhymes. Spelling does not matter, only the sound. When the rhymes dry up, read out any on the list that nobody found. Ready round: Give one word at a time and go round until the rhymes run dry. 1. Day: hay, may, pay, say, way, play, stay, tray, gray, away, today, holiday. 2. Moon: soon, noon, tune, June, spoon, balloon, cartoon, raccoon, afternoon, honeymoon. 3. Chair: bear, care, fair, hair, pair, share, square, stair, there, wear, where, prayer. 4. Gold: old, cold, bold, fold, hold, sold, told, rolled, scold.
  • Rhyme time: tree, hat, stone and heart Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Say a word and go round the group, each person adding a word that rhymes. Spelling does not matter, only the sound. When the rhymes dry up, read out any on the list that nobody found. Ready round: Give one word at a time and go round until the rhymes run dry. 1. Tree: bee, key, knee, sea, tea, three, free, me, she, ski, agree. 2. Hat: bat, cat, fat, mat, pat, rat, sat, that, flat, chat, acrobat. 3. Stone: bone, cone, phone, tone, zone, alone, grown, known, loan, own, throne, sewn. 4. Heart: art, cart, part, start, smart, chart, dart, tart, apart.
  • The secret rule picnic: letters and colors Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 12 minutes. 3 to 20 players. You know a secret rule about which words may come to the picnic. Players offer items, and you answer yes or no. The room works out the rule together. Give a fresh example whenever the guessing slows down. Ready round: Open with "I am going on a picnic and I am bringing" and name a yes item. 1. Rule: the word has a double letter. Yes to apples, cheese, butter, cookies, jelly. No to bread, plums, ham. 2. Rule: the thing is red. Yes to strawberries, tomatoes, cherries, ketchup. No to bananas, lettuce, bread. 3. Rule: the word has exactly five letters. Yes to bread, olive, peach, lemon, salad, juice. No to ham, cheese, pickles. 4. Rule: the word starts with the same letter as the speaker's first name. Yes to muffins from Mary, ham from Harold. No to cake from Betty, pears from Tom.
  • The secret rule picnic: sounds and endings Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 12 minutes. 3 to 20 players. You know a secret rule about which words may come to the picnic. Players offer items, and you answer yes or no. The room works out the rule together. Give a fresh example whenever the guessing slows down. Ready round: Open with "I am going on a picnic and I am bringing" and name a yes item. 1. Rule: the word has one beat. Yes to ham, bread, plums, cheese, grapes. No to apples, cookies, lemonade. 2. Rule: the word ends in the letter E. Yes to pie, cheese, juice, apple, cake. No to bread, plums, corn. 3. Rule: the word has a T in it. Yes to tomatoes, toast, butter, potato salad, tea. No to cheese, plums, pie. 4. Rule: each item starts with the next letter of the alphabet. Yes to apples, then bread, then cake. No to apples, then cake.
  • Sound-alike pairs: first ten Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Each answer is two words that sound the same and are spelled differently. Read both clues, take the answer, then ask someone to spell the pair. Ready round: Two clues, one sound, two spellings. 1. You bake with it; it grows in a garden: flour and flower. 2. Seven days; not strong: week and weak. 3. Two of a kind; a juicy fruit: pair and pear. 4. The ocean; what your eyes do: sea and see. 5. After sunset; he wore armor: night and knight. 6. A story; a dog wags it: tale and tail. 7. Sixty minutes; belonging to us: hour and our. 8. A boy in the family; it shines all day: son and sun. 9. To pay for something; a short goodbye: buy and bye. 10. The number after seven; finished dinner: eight and ate.
  • Sound-alike pairs: ten more Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Each answer is two words that sound the same and are spelled differently. Read both clues, take the answer, then ask someone to spell the pair. Ready round: Two clues, one sound, two spellings. 1. Correct; to put pen to paper: right and write. 2. A female deer; bread before it is baked: doe and dough. 3. Letters in the box; not female: mail and male. 4. A big furry animal; with nothing on: bear and bare. 5. A rabbit's cousin; it grows on your head: hare and hair. 6. Prices cut at the store; it catches the wind on a boat: sale and sail. 7. Flat open land; it flies: plain and plane. 8. Quiet and calm; one slice of pie: peace and piece. 9. You climb them; looks long and hard: stairs and stares. 10. A flower with thorns; lines of seats: rose and rows.
  • Take a letter away: off the back Large print or pen and paper. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Each puzzle has two clues. Solve the first, take one letter off the answer, and you have the answer to the second. Read the clues aloud, or write them out large and let pairs work through the sheet. Ready round: Take away the last letter. 1. A place to sit; the ocean: seat, sea. 2. You mail it on a birthday; you drive it: card, car. 3. A shelter for camping; the number after nine: tent, ten. 4. An evergreen tree; it holds a hem in place: pine, pin. 5. It beats in your chest; what your ears do: heart, hear. 6. It flies; what you make before a trip: plane, plan. 7. Where crops grow; not near: farm, far. 8. You eat soup from it; tied with ribbon: bowl, bow.
  • Take a letter away: off the front Large print or pen and paper. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Each puzzle has two clues. Solve the first, take one letter off the answer, and you have the answer to the second. Read the clues aloud, or write them out large and let pairs work through the sheet. Ready round: Take away the first letter. 1. To begin; sharp and sour: start, tart. 2. You sit on it; it grows on your head: chair, hair. 3. What something costs; a grain served with beans: price, rice. 4. Sand beside the sea; every single one: beach, each. 5. A rock; a musical sound: stone, tone. 6. A happy face; 5,280 feet: smile, mile. 7. You eat dinner off it; not on time: plate, late. 8. A baked loaf; what you do with a book: bread, read.
  • Tongue twisters, slowly: short ones Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read a twister aloud, then the whole group says it together, slowly first and a little quicker the second time. Speed is not the aim and volunteers only go solo. The laughing is the point. Ready round: Say each one three times in a row. 1. Toy boat. 2. Unique New York. 3. A proper copper coffee pot. 4. Red leather, yellow leather. 5. Irish wristwatch, Swiss wristwatch. 6. Red lorry, yellow lorry. 7. Cricket critic.
  • Tongue twisters, slowly: the long classics Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 8 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Read a twister aloud, then the whole group says it together, slowly first and a little quicker the second time. Speed is not the aim and volunteers only go solo. The laughing is the point. Ready round: One line each, all together. 1. She sells seashells by the seashore. 2. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. 3. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? 4. Betty Botter bought a bit of butter. 5. The lips, the teeth, the tip of the tongue.
  • Word chain: animals Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 12 players. Pick a category. Each word must begin with the last letter of the word before it, and no word is used twice. Anyone who is stuck may ask the room for help, so the chain keeps moving and nobody drops out. Ready round: The category is animals. Start with tiger. If the chain stalls, here is one that works: tiger, rabbit, turtle, elephant, toad, deer, raccoon, newt, turkey, yak.
  • Word chain: first names Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 12 players. Pick a category. Each word must begin with the last letter of the word before it, and no word is used twice. Anyone who is stuck may ask the room for help, so the chain keeps moving and nobody drops out. Ready round: The category is first names. Start with Alice. If the chain stalls, here is one that works: Alice, Edward, Dorothy, Yvonne, Ernest, Thomas, Susan, Nancy, Yolanda, Arthur.
  • Word chain: foods Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 12 players. Pick a category. Each word must begin with the last letter of the word before it, and no word is used twice. Anyone who is stuck may ask the room for help, so the chain keeps moving and nobody drops out. Ready round: The category is food and drink. Start with apple. If the chain stalls, here is one that works: apple, eggplant, tomato, orange, eclair, raisin, noodle, egg, grape, endive.
  • Word chain: places Spoken, nothing to hand out. About 10 minutes. 2 to 12 players. Pick a category. Each word must begin with the last letter of the word before it, and no word is used twice. Anyone who is stuck may ask the room for help, so the chain keeps moving and nobody drops out. Ready round: The category is places on a map: towns, states and countries. Start with Texas. If the chain stalls, here is one that works: Texas, Spain, Norway, York, Kansas, Sweden, Nebraska, Alabama, Austria, Atlanta.

Whiteboard or flip chart 25

  • Hidden words in a sentence: hidden animals Large print or pen and paper. About 12 minutes. 2 to 12 players. A word is hiding inside each sentence, often running from the end of one word into the start of the next. Read the sentence aloud slowly as well, because some people hear the word before they see it. Ready round: Each sentence hides an animal, with its letters in order and the spaces ignored. Copy the sentences out large, or write one at a time on the board. 1. Please do go and see. (dog) 2. He came late to the party. (camel) 3. She will be arriving soon. (bear) 4. Look how long it is. (owl) 5. We go at noon. (goat) 6. The author seldom visits. (horse) 7. Please always lock the door. (seal) 8. We made errors in the sum. (deer)
  • Hidden words in a sentence: hidden food Large print or pen and paper. About 12 minutes. 2 to 12 players. A word is hiding inside each sentence, often running from the end of one word into the start of the next. Read the sentence aloud slowly as well, because some people hear the word before they see it. Ready round: Each sentence hides something to eat or drink, with its letters in order and the spaces ignored. Copy the sentences out large, or write one at a time on the board. 1. We keep earrings in that box. (pear) 2. That was a historic event. (rice) 3. Maybe a nap would help. (bean) 4. The path ambles down to the lake. (ham) 5. Good decor never goes out of style. (corn) 6. I beg George to sing. (egg) 7. Wait each turn. (tea) 8. It was a ship I enjoyed sailing on. (pie)
  • Missing vowels: birds Whiteboard or flip chart. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write a word with its vowels taken out and a dash in each gap. The group says the whole word. Tell them the theme first, and write large enough to read from the back row. Ready round: The theme is birds. Write each word with a dash for every missing A, E, I, O or U. Y stays. 1. R _ B _ N: robin. 2. S P _ R R _ W: sparrow. 3. C _ R D _ N _ L: cardinal. 4. B L _ _ / J _ Y: blue jay. 5. P _ L _ C _ N: pelican. 6. _ _ G L _: eagle. 7. W _ _ D P _ C K _ R: woodpecker. 8. P _ G _ _ N: pigeon. 9. S _ _ G _ L L: seagull. 10. H _ M M _ N G B _ R D: hummingbird.
  • Missing vowels: flowers Whiteboard or flip chart. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write a word with its vowels taken out and a dash in each gap. The group says the whole word. Tell them the theme first, and write large enough to read from the back row. Ready round: The theme is flowers. Write each word with a dash for every missing A, E, I, O or U. Y stays. 1. R _ S _: rose. 2. T _ L _ P: tulip. 3. D _ _ S Y: daisy. 4. D _ F F _ D _ L: daffodil. 5. C _ R N _ T _ _ N: carnation. 6. S _ N F L _ W _ R: sunflower. 7. L _ V _ N D _ R: lavender. 8. M _ R _ G _ L D: marigold. 9. _ R C H _ D: orchid. 10. V _ _ L _ T: violet.
  • Missing vowels: in the kitchen Whiteboard or flip chart. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write a word with its vowels taken out and a dash in each gap. The group says the whole word. Tell them the theme first, and write large enough to read from the back row. Ready round: The theme is things in a kitchen. Write each word with a dash for every missing A, E, I, O or U. Y stays. 1. K _ T T L _: kettle. 2. S _ _ C _ P _ N: saucepan. 3. T _ _ S P _ _ N: teaspoon. 4. T _ _ S T _ R: toaster. 5. C _ L _ N D _ R: colander. 6. S P _ T _ L _: spatula. 7. R _ L L _ N G / P _ N: rolling pin. 8. C _ P B _ _ R D: cupboard. 9. D _ S H C L _ T H: dishcloth. 10. M _ _ S _ R _ N G / C _ P: measuring cup.
  • Team spelling bee: a notch harder Whiteboard or flip chart. About 12 minutes. 4 to 20 players. Tables are teams, and nobody spells alone. Read a word, give each table a minute to agree, then have one person per table spell it out while you write it on the board. Every table that gets it right scores. Ready round: Save these for a confident room. 1. accommodate: A-C-C-O-M-M-O-D-A-T-E. 2. occasion: O-C-C-A-S-I-O-N. 3. cemetery: C-E-M-E-T-E-R-Y. 4. mischievous: M-I-S-C-H-I-E-V-O-U-S. 5. pharaoh: P-H-A-R-A-O-H. 6. questionnaire: Q-U-E-S-T-I-O-N-N-A-I-R-E. 7. conscience: C-O-N-S-C-I-E-N-C-E. 8. lieutenant: L-I-E-U-T-E-N-A-N-T. 9. handkerchief: H-A-N-D-K-E-R-C-H-I-E-F. 10. privilege: P-R-I-V-I-L-E-G-E.
  • Team spelling bee: everyday but tricky Whiteboard or flip chart. About 12 minutes. 4 to 20 players. Tables are teams, and nobody spells alone. Read a word, give each table a minute to agree, then have one person per table spell it out while you write it on the board. Every table that gets it right scores. Ready round: Words everybody uses and many people misspell. 1. necessary: N-E-C-E-S-S-A-R-Y. 2. separate: S-E-P-A-R-A-T-E. 3. rhythm: R-H-Y-T-H-M. 4. embarrass: E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S-S. 5. calendar: C-A-L-E-N-D-A-R. 6. neighbor: N-E-I-G-H-B-O-R. 7. February: F-E-B-R-U-A-R-Y. 8. Wednesday: W-E-D-N-E-S-D-A-Y. 9. restaurant: R-E-S-T-A-U-R-A-N-T. 10. vacuum: V-A-C-U-U-M.
  • Unscramble the word: around town Whiteboard or flip chart. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write a jumbled word on the board and tell the group the theme. The room works it out together. If it sticks, give the first letter, then the second. Ready round: The theme is places around town. Write the jumbled letters large, well spaced. 1. B R R I L Y A: library. 2. E B R Y A K: bakery. 3. H R U C H C: church. 4. K R T A E M: market. 5. N I O S T A T: station. 6. I D R E B G: bridge. 7. O O L C H S: school. 8. E T E T A R H: theater.
  • Unscramble the word: fruit Whiteboard or flip chart. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write a jumbled word on the board and tell the group the theme. The room works it out together. If it sticks, give the first letter, then the second. Ready round: The theme is fruit. Write the jumbled letters large, well spaced. 1. L E A P P: apple. 2. E P H C A: peach. 3. E M N L O: lemon. 4. Y C R E R H: cherry. 5. A N A A B N: banana. 6. A R G E N O: orange. 7. R G S A P E: grapes. 8. E L N M O: melon.
  • Unscramble the word: things you wear Whiteboard or flip chart. About 10 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write a jumbled word on the board and tell the group the theme. The room works it out together. If it sticks, give the first letter, then the second. Ready round: The theme is things you wear. Write the jumbled letters large, well spaced. 1. E T K A J C: jacket. 2. V E G L O S: gloves. 3. E W T R E A S: sweater. 4. N S D A S A L: sandals. 5. O N P A R: apron. 6. R A S F C: scarf. 7. L P E S P S I R: slippers. 8. C E L N E C K A: necklace.
  • Word ladder: four letters Whiteboard or flip chart. About 12 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Turn one word into another by changing a single letter at each step, and every step must be a real word. Write the start at the top of the board and the target at the bottom, and let the room suggest each rung. Other routes may work too. Ready round: Write the first and last word with blank rungs between them. 1. COLD to WARM in 4 steps: COLD, CORD, CARD, WARD, WARM. 2. MORE to LESS in 4 steps: MORE, LORE, LOSE, LOSS, LESS. 3. BOAT to SHIP in 5 steps: BOAT, BOOT, SOOT, SHOT, SHOP, SHIP.
  • Word ladder: the long climbs Whiteboard or flip chart. About 12 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Turn one word into another by changing a single letter at each step, and every step must be a real word. Write the start at the top of the board and the target at the bottom, and let the room suggest each rung. Other routes may work too. Ready round: Write the first and last word with blank rungs between them. 1. HEAD to TAIL in 5 steps: HEAD, HEAL, TEAL, TELL, TALL, TAIL. 2. HAND to FOOT in 6 steps: HAND, HARD, CARD, CORD, FORD, FOOD, FOOT. 3. SLEEP to DREAM in 6 steps: SLEEP, BLEEP, BLEED, BREED, BREAD, DREAD, DREAM.
  • Word ladder: three letters Whiteboard or flip chart. About 12 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Turn one word into another by changing a single letter at each step, and every step must be a real word. Write the start at the top of the board and the target at the bottom, and let the room suggest each rung. Other routes may work too. Ready round: Write the first and last word with blank rungs between them. 1. CAT to DOG in 3 steps: CAT, COT, DOT, DOG. 2. BOY to MAN in 3 steps: BOY, BAY, MAY, MAN. 3. PIG to STY in 5 steps: PIG, PIT, SIT, SAT, SAY, STY.
  • Words from one long word: BUTTERSCOTCH Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write BUTTERSCOTCH in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 20 to find: butcher, shutter, stretch, bother, butter, crutch, hotter, scotch, brush, chest, couch, court, horse, house, shout, south, torch, touch, trust, truth.
  • Words from one long word: CONVERSATION Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write CONVERSATION in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 20 to find: creation, ancient, cartoon, certain, contain, section, senator, version, action, nation, notice, notion, reason, acorn, actor, canoe, ocean, raven, stove, voice.
  • Words from one long word: GRANDMOTHER Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write GRANDMOTHER in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 20 to find: anthem, danger, dragon, garden, gather, hornet, magnet, modern, mother, thread, throne, dream, earth, grade, great, heart, month, north, order, trade.
  • Words from one long word: NEWSPAPERS Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write NEWSPAPERS in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 20 to find: answer, sparse, newer, paper, pears, prawn, press, renew, sewer, snaps, snare, sneer, spare, spawn, spear, swans, swear, wasps, wraps, wrens.
  • Words from one long word: PHOTOGRAPHS Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write PHOTOGRAPHS in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 20 to find: ghost, goats, graph, grasp, harps, harsh, hoops, oaths, paths, photo, roast, roost, roots, sharp, shoot, short, sport, stoop, strap, troop.
  • Words from one long word: SNOWFLAKES Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write SNOWFLAKES in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 18 to find: flakes, ankle, false, flask, flown, knows, seals, snake, sneak, soaks, sofas, swans, waken, walks, woken, leaf, loaf, snow.
  • Words from one long word: STRAWBERRIES Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write STRAWBERRIES in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 18 to find: barrier, berries, sweater, terrier, arrest, breast, stairs, waiter, writer, beast, stare, straw, sweat, sweet, tribe, waist, water, wrist.
  • Words from one long word: SUNFLOWERS Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write SUNFLOWERS in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 18 to find: flower, lesson, slower, unless, flour, flown, frown, lower, nurse, owner, roses, rules, snore, sworn, worse, fern, fowl, wolf.
  • Words from one long word: TELEVISION Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write TELEVISION in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 20 to find: invest, invite, listen, nestle, silent, tinsel, violet, violin, vision, event, lions, noise, novel, olive, seven, solve, steel, stone, stove, votes.
  • Words from one long word: THANKSGIVING Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write THANKSGIVING in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 18 to find: shaving, skating, asking, giving, having, knight, saving, taking, thanks, vanish, giant, night, saint, stain, thing, think, king, sing.
  • Words from one long word: VALENTINES Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write VALENTINES in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 18 to find: invent, invest, leaves, listen, native, silent, tennis, tinsel, alien, elves, event, least, linen, saint, seven, snail, steal, vines.
  • Words from one long word: WATERMELON Whiteboard or flip chart. About 15 minutes. 2 to 20 players. Write one long word where everyone can see it and give the group five minutes to make smaller words from its letters. Tables can list their own, or the room can call words out while you write them up. The list is a start, not the full set. Ready round: Write WATERMELON in tall capitals. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears. Words of four letters or more count. 18 to find: eternal, antler, mental, molten, remote, rental, alert, later, learn, lemon, melon, metal, meter, owner, towel, tower, water, woman.

How this list was compiled: The games are described in our own words and every round was written for this page on 2026-09-19. The 40 proverbs are traditional, and the wording of each was checked on 2026-09-19 against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_proverbial_phrases. The tongue twisters are traditional too, and each was checked against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue_twister on the same day. Similes, sayings and pairs are common usage, and where a line has more than one well-worn ending the round gives the extras. Word lists, ladders, jumbles, hidden words and letter counts were checked by a script: every answer under a long word can be made from its letters, every ladder changes one letter per step, and every hidden word sits in its sentence. The lists of answers are starters, not complete sets, so accept any fair answer from the room. Licence: own work