Thanksgiving word scramble with optional clues
Print a ten-word Thanksgiving word scramble for the table. Start with the letters alone, then use a numbered clue when you’re stuck. The help sheet includes a word bank, and the answers have their own download.
Free PDFs, no account or email. Each paper size has three separate one-page files. Print just the puzzle, or add help and answers. These are fixed sheets for writing on with a pencil.
Ten words, one roomy answer line each
The words are familiar things around a Thanksgiving meal, plus a few fall and family words. They range from three to seven letters. The number beside each line connects it to the same number on the help sheet and key.
Read the scrambled letters on this page
- YEKRUT (6 letters)
- KIMPNUP (7 letters)
- KIPNAN (6 letters)
- BLATE (5 letters)
- VYRAG (5 letters)
- YLMFAI (6 letters)
- KSHNAT (6 letters)
- VESEAL (6 letters)
- EIP (3 letters)
- RNDIEN (6 letters)
Rearrange all the letters in one row to make a word. Repeated letters count separately: if you see two Ns, your answer needs two Ns. There’s no need to start at number 1; try a shorter word and come back to another row later.
A clue before the whole answer
Leave the help sheet aside for a letters-only puzzle. When someone asks for help, read the clue with the matching number. The alphabetical word bank is at the bottom of that sheet; cover it with another piece of paper if you want to try the clues first.
Read the ten clues without opening the key
- A large bird often pictured at Thanksgiving.
- An orange squash often made into pie.
- A cloth or paper square for wiping your hands or mouth.
- The piece of furniture that holds your plates.
- A sauce often poured over mashed potatoes.
- The people you call your relatives.
- A word you can say to show appreciation.
- The flat parts of a tree that may change color in fall.
- A baked dessert with a crust and filling.
- The meal many people eat in the evening.
Show the alphabetical word bank
DINNER, FAMILY, GRAVY, LEAVES, NAPKIN, PIE, PUMPKIN, TABLE, THANKS, TURKEY.
Worked example: number 1
The first row is YEKRUT. Its clue is “A large bird often pictured at Thanksgiving.” Rearranging those six letters gives TURKEY: one T, U, R, K, E and Y. This example solves the first printed row; leave it for later if you want to begin without a hint.
Some letters can make more than one word. Number 4, BLATE, can make both TABLE and BLEAT. The clue about furniture identifies TABLE as this puzzle’s answer. Use the clue or word bank to check the intended word.
Keep the answer key until you want it
The key lists every scrambled word beside its answer, in puzzle order. It’s a separate PDF, so printing the puzzle won’t put the solutions on the same sheet. Keep it face down while people work, then compare by number.
Show the answer-key preview and all ten answers
| Number | Scramble | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YEKRUT | TURKEY |
| 2 | KIMPNUP | PUMPKIN |
| 3 | KIPNAN | NAPKIN |
| 4 | BLATE | TABLE |
| 5 | VYRAG | GRAVY |
| 6 | YLMFAI | FAMILY |
| 7 | KSHNAT | THANKS |
| 8 | VESEAL | LEAVES |
| 9 | EIP | PIE |
| 10 | RNDIEN | DINNER |
Use one puzzle copy per person, or share a sheet and solve together. Everyone can choose whether to use clues or the word bank. To avoid revealing answers to someone who’s still solving, check their finished words away from the remaining players.
Print only the pages you’ll use
Choose US Letter for 8.5 × 11-inch paper or A4 for 210 × 297-millimeter paper. Use the matching PDFs and print portrait at Actual size or 100%. One complete set uses three sheets: puzzle, optional help and key. The Letter and A4 versions contain the same puzzle, so you don’t need both.
The answer lines are at least four inches wide, with space above each line for handwriting. Instructions and clues are 12-point type; the scrambled words on the puzzle are 19-point. The pages use dark ink on white and can be printed in grayscale.
Check your printer’s preview for clipped edges or automatic scaling. Download the PDFs for printing; the images show the actual pages but aren’t the print files. The PDFs don’t have fields to type into.
Keep the puzzle for Thanksgiving
More for the holiday table
For clues that cross on a grid, try the short crossword puzzles. If you’re planning the meal itself, the Thanksgiving menu planner is a separate resource for dishes and preparation. Browse the printable library for more paper activities.
Published October 19, 2026.