Original Puzzles and Word Games

Word Search Puzzles

We invite you to have some fun keeping your brain sharp and active. You can solve these puzzles, use them as word banks to build vocabulary, or use them for brain training. Each puzzle has its own solution page, linked from the puzzle page. Do the puzzle, or use the word list to look up the terms online to find out more. All are printable. Adjust your printer setting to 85 or 90 percent or so.

Academic, Technical

Physics, Science and Math Words  Physics, science and math words, uppercase letters, from the Higgs boson to the Lagrangian and Maxwell's Demon.

Computer Tech Words  Everyday English.

Computer Programming Tech Words  Everyday English.

Cell Phone, Mobile Phone Tech Words  Everyday English.

Stock Market  Stock market terms, idioms, slang, verbs and nouns, uppercase letters.

Stock Trading  Stock trading terms, idioms, slang, verbs and nouns, uppercase letters.

Wall Street  Wall Street stock market terms, idioms, slang, verbs and nouns, uppercase letters.

Latin- and Greek-based Advanced Vocabulary One  Academic English.

Latin- and Greek-based Advanced Vocabulary Two  Academic English.

Latin- and Greek-based Advanced Vocabulary Three  Academic English.

Latin- and Greek-based Intermediate Vocabulary One  Academic English.

Latin- and Greek-based Intermediate Vocabulary Two  Academic English.

Social, Foods, Cooking

Thanks  Thank you phrases and sayings about accomplishment, teamwork, and skills, to use in person, or in emails and tweets, cards and notes.

Thank You  More thank you phrases and sayings about the value of hard work, employee appreciation, and reward for a good job, to use in person, or in emails and tweets, cards and notes.

Autumn Harvest Holiday Dinner  Everyday English words: cranberry sauce and turkey, whipped cream and pumpkin pie. What's the hidden phrase?

Cooking and Kitchen Vocabulary, Nouns  Everyday English words: cup, drawer, griddle, pan, soup pot, stove, trash can, and more.

Fruits  lowercase letters - Everyday English food vocabulary, names of common fruits.

Cooking, Easy Verbs  uppercase letters - easy verbs from simple recipes in English: bake, boil, chop, clean, eat, feed, and more.

Cooking, Advanced Verbs  uppercase letters - advanced verbs from more sophisticated recipes in English: braise, dredge, evaporate, knead, marinate, and more.

Cook Italian Recipe Ingredients - Food and Cooking  uppercase letters, from Italian cheeses, to common fruits, vegetables, meats, herbs and spices, and more.

Basic Bread Recipe Ingredients - Food and Cooking  uppercase letters - these ingredients make basic bread, using a variety of flours, liquids, and sweeteners.

Savory Bread Recipe Ingredients - Food and Cooking  uppercase letters - turn basic bread into savory bread using ingredients from this list of vegetables, seeds, nuts, and herbs.

Sweet Bread Recipe Ingredients - Food and Cooking  uppercase letters - turn basic bread into sweet bread using ingredients from this list of fruits, chocolate, and spices.

Dessert Pies - Food and Cooking  uppercase letters, from Orange Chiffon Pie and Mississippi Mud Pie of the Deep South, Shoofly Pie of the Amish, to Maple Sugar Pie of Quebec.

Set the Table, Dining Tableware, Cutlery, Utensils, Place Setting  Tableware, names, and common nouns, uppercase letters, from knife, fork and spoon to the coffee carafe.

Children and Holidays

Visit the Fairy Tale Princesses  Fairy tale princess names, and common nouns, uppercase letters, from Cinderella to castle and theme parks.

Wild Animals of the World  Everyday English, lowercase letters.

Christmas Delights  Everyday English vocabulary for Christmas, uppercase letters.

Winter Wonderland  Everyday English vocabulary for wintertime activities, uppercase letters.

Happy Holidays  Christmas time fun, uppercase letters, easy words.

Happy Holidays  Christmas time fun, lowercase letters, easy words.

Travel, Culture

Old West Cowboys  Old West Cowboy Life, uppercase letters, terms for cowboy gear, animals, and trail life.

Vancouver  Vancouver, BC, Canada, places, names, and common nouns, uppercase letters, from the Gastown Steam Clock to the Richmond Night Market.

US States - Explore important places, foods, people, plants, animals, songs, events and trivia

All of these puzzles are uppercase letters, and are fully printable. Adjust your printer setting to 90 percent or so.

Besides solving them as they are, you can use them as starting points for an online exploration of each state. Just use a search engine to look up the term or phrase followed by the two-letter state abbreviation, and presto! there is information about the state, ready for an online visit.

Each puzzle has a variety of terms and words, inluding historical people and ethnic groups, traditional and modern foods characteristic of each state, some common or endangered wildlife, tourist attractions, historic places, parks, geographical features, cities, events, and other goodies. Not all attractions or places named are major, some are small hidden jewels, patiently waiting for their turn in the spotlight.

Welcome to the variety that is The United States of America! We do hope you enjoy the trip!

US 50 States  Just to get you started, all fifty USA state names are in this puzzle. For an extra challenge, make your own state name list from memory, then find them in the puzzle grid.

Alabama  Alabama places, names, and common nouns, from Bellingrath Gardens to the Cotton Exchange.

Alaska  Alaska places, names, and common nouns, from the Chilkoot Pass to the Northern LIghts.

Arizona  Arizona places, names, and common nouns, from the Bird Cage Theatre to the Petrified Forest.

Arkansas  Arkansas places, names, and common nouns, from Smackover to the Cosmic Caverns.

California  California places, names, and common nouns, from Weaverville to the Painted Ladies.

Colorado  Colorado places, names, and common nouns, from Leadville to the Redland Desert.

Connecticut  Connecticut places, names, and common nouns, from Mystic Seaport to Roseland Cottage.

Delaware  Delaware places, names, and common nouns, from the Dupont Mansions to Historic Odessa.

Florida  Florida places, names, and common nouns, from Kissimmee's Old Town Classic Car Cruise to the Space Coast.

Georgia  Georgia places, names, and common nouns, from Harriet Tubman's legacy to the chenille spreads of Peacock Alley.

Hawaii  Hawaii places, names, and common nouns, from dolphin watching and surfing to sugar plantations and Kaanapali sunsets.

Idaho  Idaho places, names, and common nouns, from historic Wallace and the ghost town Silver City to the mammoth fossil beds.

Illinois  Illinois places, names, and common nouns, from the historic stately homes and buildings in Quincy to the Vandalia Old State Capitol.

Indiana  Indiana places, names, and common nouns, from Amish country, the Salisbury Log Courthouse, and ice caverns, to the Chesterton Oz Fest.

Iowa  Iowa places, names, and common nouns, travel through time from the Old Order Amish horse and buggy to exhibits of trains, motorcycles, and the Truckers Jamboree.

Kansas  Kansas places, names, and common nouns, from the Santa Fe Wagon Road and Old Dodge City, to Valentine Diners, and Woody Hockaday, who literally put Kansas on the map.

Kentucky  Kentucky places, names, and common nouns, from a boat tour of the Lost River Cave to the American National Quilt Museum, and the Kentucky Horse Park, the world's only horse park.

Louisiana  Louisiana places, names, and common nouns, from the copper gas lamps and ornate ironwork of the French Quarter to riverboat casinos, river cruises, and airboat swamp tours.

Maine  Maine places, names, and common nouns, from lumber baron mansions and old historic inns, to the amusements of the ocean pier towns, sand beaches, lighthouses, and lobster boats.

Maryland  Maryland places, names, and common nouns, from the Clustered Spires High Wheel Race to the Roads & Rails model trains, historic ships in harbor, and an unusual topiary garden.

Massachusetts  Massachusetts places, names, and common nouns, from the Mayflower and village life, the age of sail and the industrial wealth that built mansions, to Boston Harbor and the romantic beaches of Cape Cod.

Michigan  Michigan places, names, and common nouns, from the white sand beaches of the Great Lakes, colonial life and car museums to the Dutch influence and the "Little Bavaria" of Frankenmuth.

Minnesota  Minnesota places, names, and common nouns, from foods like smoked walleye, lefse, and frybread to Scandinavian heritage, the fur trade, and the sophistication of The Mall and the Walker Art Center.

Mississippi  Mississippi places, names, and common nouns, from catfish farms and casinos to the Biloxi oyster schooners and sandhill cranes of the Mississippi River delta.

Missouri  Missouri places, names, and common nouns, from the endangered Ozark Hellbender and the Eastern Bluebird to toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, touring the wineries of Hermann, and biking the Katy Trail.

Montana  Montana places, names, and common nouns, from the Bair Family Museum of Martinsdale, ghost towns like Garnet, and Havre Beneath the Streets, historical heroes like Buffalo Calf Road Woman, to the peaks of Glacier National Park.

Nebraska  Nebraska places, names, and common nouns, from the pedestrian bridge and Gold Coast mansions of Omaha, migrating Sandhill Cranes and fossil beds, pioneer ranches and railroad towns, to world famous popcorn and prime rib steaks.

Nevada  Nevada places, names, and common nouns, from historic ranches and pioneer trails to red rock canyons, antelope and sage hens, railroad adventures, old silver mines and ghost towns, and of course, gambling and shows.

New Hampshire  New Hampshire places, names, and common nouns, from the flume gorge and tram of Franconia Notch, mountain vistas, Shaker colonies, and historic mansions to seaside resorts, Portsmouth harbor, and the Isles of Shoals.

New Jersey  New Jersey places, names, and common nouns, from Historic Burlington and other villages, old-time farms, model trains and narrow gauge railways, to the tomato pie, pork roll and saltwater taffy of the Jersey shore beaches.

New Mexico  New Mexico places, names, and common nouns, from Indian pueblos, badlands hoodoos, and the Palace of the Governors, to duck races, the ABQ BioPark and Pioneers of the Atom.

New York  New York places, names, and common nouns, from historic Hudson Valley Estates and the Genesee Country Village, to Rhinebek bi-plane rides, coal-oven pizza, and Coney Island.

North Carolina  North Carolina places, names, and common nouns, from the Great Smoky Mountains and the Outer Banks, to the Biltmore Estate, the Horne Creek Farm, and the Town Creek Indian Mound.

North Dakota  North Dakota places, names, and common nouns, from rarities like the world's only 1925 Case Model X Suburban Coupe or Mystical Horizons, a 21st-century Stonhenge, to the sites of Mandan earth lodges, historic forts and pioneer villages.

Ohio  Ohio places, names, and common nouns, from the Mount Airy Forest Treehouse, and horse-drawn canal boats plying the Ohio and Erie Canal, to the Cardboard Boat Regatta, chili parlor dinners, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Oklahoma  Oklahoma places, names, and common nouns, from the five Indian Nations, Indian tribes, and the land runs of the settlers, to the Chisholm Trail and cowboy life, mining, railways, Route 66, and air and space museums.

Oregon  Oregon places, names, and common nouns, from the Painted Hills, the Gorge, Mount Hood, Oregon Dunes, Arch Cape and beaches galore to the Washington Park Rose Garden, the Pittock Mansion, OMSI and the Portland Zoo.

Pennsylvania  Pennsylvania places, names, and common nouns, from the transportation delights of Boathouse Row, the Simeone Auto Museum, the Strasburg Rail Road, Steamtown, and trolley museums, to the Poconos, Quiet Valley, the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle.

Rhode Island  Rhode Island places, names, and common nouns, from Newport's Cliff Walk and Mansions of the Gilded Age, historic farms, old mills, and beaches, to coffee cabinets and quahog stuffies.

South Carolina  South Carolina places, names, and common nouns, from historic mansions, plantations, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, and a sea turtle hospital, to Skywheel, the Swamp Rabbit Trail, and Frogmore Stew.

South Dakota  South Dakota places, names, and common nouns, from the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and historic Deadwood, to wasna, bison, kuchen, Forestburg watermelon and Freeman chislic.

Tennessee  Tennessee places, names, and common nouns, from the Grand Ole Opry, Lookout Mountain, and the Great Smokies, to a civil rights museum, muscle cars, and a pyramid.

Texas  Texas places, names, and common nouns, from the San Antonio River Walk, the Gulf Coast, and Palo Duro Canyon, to Storybook Sculptures out of Dr. Seuss, historic ranches, pioneer farms, and Spanish missions.

Utah  Utah places, names, and common nouns, from the dramatic lighting on the stone outcroppings of Mexican Hat, the Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Dead Horse Point, to Pioneer Day, Pie and Beer Day, and pastrami burgers.

Vermont  Vermont places, names, and common nouns, from the homesteads of presidents, the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion, and the Old Constitution House, to mountains, skiing, covered bridges, and pancakes and maple syrup.

Virginia  Virginia places, names, and common nouns, from the Allegheny Mountains, Burke's Garden, Crooked Road music, and apple butter, to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, the Old Coastguard Station, the Chincoteague Ponies, and oysters.

Washington  Washington places, names, and common nouns, from the Columbia River Gorge, Palouse Falls, the Cascades, and the Olympic Mountains, to Point Defiance Park, Seattle's Space Needle, Long Beach Kites, and huckleberry pie.

West Virginia  West Virginia places, names, and common nouns, from the Gauley River Rapids, the Greenbrier River Trail, and the Seneca Caverns, to historic railroads, The Great Rubber Ducky Race, buckwheat cakes and pepperoni rolls.

Wisconsin  Wisconsin places, names, and common nouns, from the Wisconsin Dells waterparks, Paul Bunyan myths, lumberjack museums, and steam trains, to the Rhinelander Hodag, the EAA AirVenture Museum, and fried cheese curds.

Wyoming  Wyoming places, names, and common nouns, from Cheyenne's cowboy boot street sculptures, the Museum of the Mountain Man, and Buffalo Bill, to Yellowstone, Sinks Canyon, Jackson Hole, the Grand Tetons, dinosaur digs, and beef jerky.

Washington, District of Columbia  Washington DC places, names, and common nouns, from the White House, Capitol Hill and ornate government buildings, monuments, museums and galleries, to Georgetown, Ethiopian food, and half-smokies.

Mini Word Search Puzzles

These little puzzles are only 10 - 12 letters wide and 10 - 12 letters high. They are large print, with a dark font. All are fully printable. Each has a link to its own printable solution page.

Lowercase Letters, Manuscript Printing
Easy Words Ending -ad, -at, -am, -an  Easy three-letter words beginning with a consonant and ending in -ad, -at, -am, -an. Can you find all the 30 hidden words without a word list? Don't worry, there is a cheat sheet word list if you get stuck. This is useful for building closed-syllable vocabulary ending in a dental (d,t) or nasal (m,n).

Uppercase Letters
Old West Cowboy Life  Old West cowboy life, from bandanna to stirrup.

Old West Cowboy Life - People and Animals  Old West cowboy life, people and animals, from beef to wrangler.

Old West Cowboy Life - Action Words (Verbs)  Old West cowboy life action words (verbs), from brand to yell.

Mini Word Search Puzzles - US States - Explore important places, foods, people, plants, animals, songs, events and trivia

All are uppercase letters.

Alabama  Alabama places, names, and common nouns, from armadillo to steel.

Alaska  Alaska places, names, and common nouns, from bannock to whale.

Arizona  Arizona places, names, and common nouns, from burro to turquoise.

Arkansas  Arkansas places, names, and common nouns, from barbeque to turkeys.

California  California places, names, and common nouns, from beaches to Yosemite.

Colorado  Colorado places, names, and common nouns, from brewery to watermelon.

Connecticut  Connecticut places, names, and common nouns, from antiques to tide.

Delaware  Delaware places, names, and common nouns, from beach to Victrola.

Florida  Florida places, names, and common nouns, from alligator to zoo.

Georgia  Georgia places, names, and common nouns, from antebellum to roses.

Hawaii  Hawaii places, names, and common nouns, from aloha to waterfalls.

Idaho  Idaho places, names, and common nouns, from berries to venison.

Illinois  Illinois places, names, and common nouns, from Abe to waterfalls.

Indiana  Indiana places, names, and common nouns, from Amish to woodrat.

Iowa  Iowa places, names, and common nouns, from Amish to turkeys.

Kansas  Kansas places, names, and common nouns, from cattle to wheat.

Kentucky  Kentucky places, names, and common nouns, from Appalachia to turkey.

Louisiana  Louisiana places, names, and common nouns, from Acadian to sugarcane.

Maine  Maine places, names, and common nouns, from apples to windjammer.

Maryland  Maryland places, names, and common nouns, from bay to workboat.

Massachusetts  Massachusetts places, names, and common nouns, from beans to women.

Michigan  Michigan places, names, and common nouns, from Bavarian to windmill.

Minnesota  Minnesota places, names, and common nouns, from bison to wolves.

Mississippi  Mississippi places, names, and common nouns, from antebellum to swamp.

Missouri  Missouri places, names, and common nouns, from arch to woolens.

Montana  Montana places, names, and common nouns, from bighorn to Yellowstone.

Nebraska  Nebraska places, names, and common nouns, from archway to zoo.

Nevada  Nevada places, names, and common nouns, from antelope to thunder.

New Hampshire  New Hampshire places, names, and common nouns, from alpine to white.

New Jersey  New Jersey places, names, and common nouns, from Atlantic to tomato.

New Mexico  New Mexico places, names, and common nouns, from antelope to Zozobra.

New York  New York places, names, and common nouns, from beaches to waterfalls.

North Carolina  North Carolina places, names, and common nouns, from autos to whirligig.

North Dakota  North Dakota places, names, and common nouns, from aircraft to walleye.

Ohio  Ohio places, names, and common nouns, from basket to woodstove.

Oklahoma  Oklahoma places, names, and common nouns, from armadillo to tribes.

Oregon  Oregon places, names, and common nouns, from beaches to yurt.

Pennsylvania  Pennsylvania places, names, and common nouns, from aviary to trolley.

Rhode Island  Rhode Island places, names, and common nouns, from bonfires to windmill.

South Carolina  South Carolina places, names, and common nouns, from amusement to wetlands.

South Dakota  South Dakota places, names, and common nouns, from arrowhead to watermelon.

Tennessee  Tennessee places, names, and common nouns, from Appalachia to victorian.

Texas  Texas places, names, and common nouns, from Alamo to stockyard.

Utah  Utah places, names, and common nouns, from arches to Zion.

Vermont  Vermont places, names, and common nouns, from Athenaeum to slate.

Virginia  Virginia places, names, and common nouns, from Allegheny to Washington.

Washington  Washington places, names, and common nouns, from apples to zoos.

West Virginia  West Virginia places, names, and common nouns, from Appalachia to waterfalls.

Wisconsin  Wisconsin places, names, and common nouns, from airplanes to steam.

Wyoming  Wyoming places, names, and common nouns, from bighorn to Yellowstone.

Washington DC  Washington DC places, names, and common nouns, from basilica to veteran.

Cross Out Word Puzzles

To see instructions for making a cross out puzzle,go to my lesson plan A Puzzle To Teach Vocabulary
on the ESL Teachers Board - ESL Lessons & Classroom Games Page

Nouns, Verbs, and Canadian Geography  Find the sentence left over after you have marked out the words you used.

Foods and Cooking  Vocabulary for what we eat in North America.

Taking A Trip  Vocabulary for travel.

It's Christmas Time  Vocabulary for Christmas and winter.

How Big? How Heavy?  Weights and measures vocabulary.

Shades of Color  Some fun sorting color words.

Moods, Feelings, Looks  How do you feel? Choose a word here.

Cross Out Word Puzzle, Paragraph Style

To Keep It Secret  Cross out the words in order, and you have an idiom left over.

Word Change Puzzles

A Famous Canadian  Follow the directional instructions to change one word to another.

Smoked Delicacy  Follow the directional instructions to change one word to another.

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