Literacy Puzzles and Games

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Literacy Puzzles and Games
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Literacy Puzzles

• Disguised Words
• Riddle-me-Ree
• Pick and Mix
• Jumbled Cinderella
• Pairings
• Palindromes
• Anagrams
• Chain Letters

• Homonyms
• Add a letter
• Ladder Words
• Car Words
• Bar Words
• The Five by Five Square
• Categories

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Disguised Words
In each of the following sentences, a word is
hidden. The word is not mixed up, and the letters
follow in the correct order. For example, what
fruit is hidden in this sentence
There was neither sorrow nor anger in her voice.
In this example the answer is orange, see you can
find the following hidden words.
Countries
Cities
Birds
Animals
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Find the hidden Countries!

1. The bigger man yawned as his smaller friend left
   the room.
2. The new zoo buys one new pelican a day.
3. The tramway itself ran centrally through the main
   street.
4. The following November mud appeared where lakes
   had been formerly.
5. After the great wind, I am sure there will be
   rain.
6. Co-operation between Interpol and the national
   police forces is essential.

5
Find the hidden Countries!

• The bigger man yawned as his smaller friend left
  the room.
• The new zoo buys one new pelican a day.
• The tramway itself ran centrally through the main
  street.
• 4) The following November mud appeared where
  lakes had been formerly.
• 5) After the great wind, I am sure there will be
  rain.
• 6) Co-operation between Interpol and the national
  police forces is essential.

6
Find the Hidden Cities

1. It is obvious that the well is bone dry
2. Fred will be with me when we meet OK? Your
   loving mother.
3. Hans van Larsen was interested in burghers
   rights.
4. This spar is used to support all of the rigging
   during repairs.
5. When the leaves are in bud, apes try to chew
   them.
6. It will not help that swelling to neglect the
   proper treatment.

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Find the Hidden Cities

1. It is obvious that the well is bone dry
2. Fred will be with me when we meet OK? Your
   loving mother.
3. Hans van Larsen was interested in burghers
   rights.
4. This spar is used to support all of the rigging
   during repairs.
5. When the leaves are in bud, apes try to chew
   them.
6. It will not help that swelling to neglect the
   proper treatment.

8
Find the Hidden Animals

1. To obtain the finest fruit, I germinate the seeds
   myself.
2. The hospital is for those either mentally ailing,
   or ill and in general bad health.
3. For her coronation, the queen was clad in gold
   and silver robes.
4. We, as elected members of the council must take
   responsibility.
5. As naked flames are forbidden in the mines, I
   suggest a pocket torch.
6. The price minimum on keyboard instruments depends
   on the age and quality.

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Find the Hidden Animals

1. To obtain the finest fruit, I germinate the seeds
   myself.
2. The hospital is for those either mentally ailing,
   or ill and in general bad health.
3. For her coronation, the queen was clad in gold
   and silver robes.
4. We, as elected members of the council must take
   responsibility.
5. As naked flames are forbidden in the mines, I
   suggest a pocket torch.
6. The price minimum on keyboard instruments depends
   on the age and quality.

10
Find the Hidden Birds

1. Panic ran everywhere as the people learned of the
   war news.
2. Can a rye grass seed succeed in a climate like
   this?
3. Since the settee is not new, renovating the
   covers would be best.
4. To deal with such a will o the wisp, arrows and
   spears would be useless.
5. The new team members are Arthur Hawthorn, Bill
   Mathews and Joe Dawkins.
6. Home of the nocturnal bat, Ross Island lies ten
   kilometres offshore.

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Find the Hidden Birds

1. Panic ran everywhere as the people learned of the
   war news.
2. Can a rye grass seed succeed in a climate like
   this?
3. Since the settee is not new, renovating the
   covers would be best.
4. To deal with such a will o the wisp, arrows and
   spears would be useless.
5. The new team members are Arthur Hawthorn, Bill
   Mathews and Joe Dawkins.
6. Home of the nocturnal bat, Ross Island lies ten
   kilometres offshore.

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Each line in the following verse gives a letter,
which finally makes the name of a well known
character in a children's book.
My first is in Peter, but not in Dan, My seconds
in Iris, but not in Anne, My third is in John,
but not in Arthur, My fourth is in Joan, but not
in Martha My fifth is in Charles, but in
Jerry, My sixth is in Joyce, but not in Terry My
sevenths in Hugh, and also in Johnny, My eighth
is in Jill, but not in Bonny, My ninth is in
Tommy, and also in Joe, My whole is a puppet we
saw in a show.
Riddle-me-Ree
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Riddle-me-Ree
Each line in the following verse gives a letter,
which finally makes the name of a well known
character in a children's book.
My first is in Peter, but not in Dan, My seconds
in Iris, but not in Anne, My third is in John,
but not in Arthur, My fourth is in Joan, but not
in Martha My fifth is in Charles, but in
Jerry, My sixth is in Joyce, but not in Terry My
sevenths in Hugh, and also in Johnny, My eighth
is in Jill, but not in Bonny, My ninth is in
Tommy, and also in Joe, My whole is a puppet we
saw in a show.
14
Pick and Mix
Pair up the words underneath to make new extended
words. For example, paper and back make the word
paperback.
Paper
Rocking
Wicket
Dog
Room
Bull
Copy
Chair
Mother
Back
Bed
Keeper
Cat
Motor
Foster
Bike
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Pick and Mix
Answers
Bull
Dog
Paper
Back
Rocking
Chair
Wicket
Keeper
Mother
Foster
Room
Bed
Motor
Bike
Cat
Copy
16
Jumbled Cinderella
You have been given strips of a passage, which
you may recognise from Cinderella. Arrange the
strips into the correct order, so that the
passage can be read properly.
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Cinderellas fairy godmother only just touched
her with her wand, and at the same instant, her
clothes were turned into cloth of gold and
silver, all studded with beautiful jewels.
This done, she gave her a pair of
glass slippers, the prettiest in the
whole world. So Cinderella, dress in all her
finery, got into the coach. Then her godmother
warned her not to stay out after midnight,
telling her at the same time that if she stayed
one moment longer, the coach would be a
pumpkin again. The horses would turn back
into mice, the coachman would become a rat and
the footmen lizards. Her clothes would turn back
into the rags she had been wearing before.
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Pairing
The following three-letter groups form part of
six letter words. For, instance, the word design
can be though of in two halves, DES IGN. Each of
the following three-letter words can be paired
up with another to make a six-letter word. See
how many of the 24 six-letter words you can make.

Group 1
Group 2
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Group 1
BAR HER PIL RAV REM TUS KEY GAR
BER WAS EAT GLE PLE TAC REP DRA
KET BAS LOW TER WER TLE FOL ROB
RED PRI AIN BOT LAR TEN WIN DEN
DON TAR INE SON GET CUE RES BUN
CAC UCE NET SON KLE REL SIM DER
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Answers
Bungle Basket Donkey Bottle
Reduce Remain Repeat Garden
Simple Tackle Barrel Washer
Follow Robber Sonnet Tender
Rescue Winter Target Prison
Pillar Drawer Cactus Ravine
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Group 2
COL BER SYS PET LOW FIN CIL BAB
TON REA TEL JAC LAR MAN TRE WOO
GER KEY MER STE MAL CEN PLA PEL
CAR SEC PEN YER HUN ADY TEM YEL
DER PRO ARK ANI BUT NUM OON TUR
KET SUM OUR OND DOL DEN REM TER
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Answers
Colour Second Dollar Number
System Player Hunter Carpet
Yellow Finger Pencil Button
Reader Propel Remark Animal
Centre Baboon Turkey Mantel
Jacket Summer Steady Wooden
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Palindromes

• Answer the questions below. Each answer is a
  palindrome. The number of spaces indicate the
  number of letters in the palindrome.
• Boy scouts try to do a good one every day _ _ _ _
• A light touch on a motor horn _ _ _ _
• Midday _ _ _ _
• A quick look _ _ _ _
• It finds aircraft in wartime _ _ _ _ _
• A helicopter has one _ _ _ _ _
• Dear Sir or _ _ _ _ _
• Eskimos go fishing in one _ _ _ _ _
• Flat and even _ _ _ _ _
• When your walls are shabby you need to do this _
  _ _ _ _ _ _

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Palindromes

• Answer the questions below. Each answer is a
  palindrome. The number of spaces indicate the
  number of letters in the palindrome.
• Boy scouts try to do a good one every day DEED
• A light touch on a motor horn TOOT
• Midday NOON
• A quick look PEEP
• It finds aircraft in wartime RADAR
• A helicopter has one ROTOR
• Dear Sir or MADAM
• Eskimos go fishing in one KAYAK
• Flat and even LEVEL
• When your walls are shabby you need to do this
  REPAPER

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Anagrams
Chose a topic to try and work out the anagrams
Countries
Towns and Cities
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TOWNS AND CITIES

1. A LONE CRAB
2. GO NAP HENCE
3. I RASP
4. AVENGE
5. RUE SEA BISON
6. A DIAL DEE

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TOWNS AND CITIES

1. In Spain
2. In Denmark
3. In France
4. In Switzerland
5. In Argentina
6. In Australia

1. A LONE CRAB
2. GO NAP HENCE
3. I RASP
4. AVENGE
5. RUE SEA BISON
6. A DIAL DEE

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TOWNS AND CITIES

1. In Spain
2. In Denmark
3. In France
4. In Switzerland
5. In Argentina
6. In Australia

1. BARCELONA
2. COPENHAGEN
3. PARIS
4. GENEVA
5. BUENOS AIRES
6. ADELAIDE

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COUNTRIES

1. DARK MEN
2. A TEN GRAIN
3. LASKI RAN
4. O-NO CREAM?
5. NON ABLE

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COUNTRIES

1. In Western Europe
2. In South America
3. In Southeast Asia
4. In Africa
5. In the Middle East

1. DARK MEN
2. A TEN GRAIN
3. LASKI RAN
4. O-NO CREAM?
5. NON ABLE

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COUNTRIES

1. DENMARK
2. ARGENTINA
3. SRI LANKA
4. CAMEROON
5. LEBANON

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HOMONYMS
A homonym is a word which has the same sound as
another, but has quite a different meaning, and
is usually spelled differently. Write, right and
rite are all pronounced alike, but all mean
different things. See if you can find the
homonyms which go with clues below.
A type of tree Soft hair of an animal
Golf starting place Drink
One who sells A room underground
Stitch Plant seeds
Drip Vegetable like an onion
Step Gaze
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HOMONYMS
A homonym is a word which has the same sound as
another, but has quite a different meaning, and
is usually spelled differently. Write, right and
rite are all pronounced alike, but all mean
different things. See if you can find the
homonyms which go with clues below.
A type of tree FIR Soft hair of an animal FUR
Golf starting place TEE Drink TEA
One who sells SELLER A room underground CELLAR
Stitch SEW Plant seeds SOW
Drip LEAK Vegetable like an onion LEEK
Step STAIR Gaze STARE
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ADD A LETTER
Starting with the letter A, add one letter at
each stage to make a new word. You can rearrange
the letters if you wish
A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Show example
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FOR EXAMPLE
A AN RAN RANT TRAIN STRAIN
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Ladder Words
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B L A N K
B L A N D
B L E N D
B L E E D
B R E E D
G R E E D
1
2
6
7
3
4
8
Here is a word square in which the word BLANK is
changed, one letter at a time into greed. See if
you can change the following word into a new one.
You can only change one letter at a time. You
can only change each letter once Each change must
make a proper word
Click on a number
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S
E
T
O
D
S
E
T
A
D
S
E
R
A
D
S
T
R
A
D
S
T
R
A
P
Y
T
R
A
P
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K
N
I
H
T
K
N
A
H
T
K
N
A
H
S
K
N
A
P
S
K
R
A
P
S
E
R
A
P
S
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E
N
I
W
T
E
N
I
W
S
E
N
I
H
S
E
R
I
H
S
E
R
A
H
S
K
R
A
H
S
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D
R
A
O
B
S
R
A
O
B
S
T
A
O
B
S
T
A
O
M
S
T
A
E
M
S
T
E
E
M
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D
E
R
O
B
D
E
R
A
B
D
E
K
A
B
D
E
K
A
F
R
E
K
A
F
R
I
K
A
F
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R
E
S
O
L
R
E
S
O
P
S
E
S
O
P
S
E
R
O
P
S
T
R
O
P
S
T
R
A
P
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N
E
V
A
R
S
E
V
A
R
S
E
V
O
R
S
E
L
O
R
S
L
L
O
R
S
L
L
O
D
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S
W
O
L
G
S
W
O
L
B
S
W
O
R
B
N
W
O
R
B
N
W
A
R
B
N
I
A
R
B
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CAR WORDS
The answers to all the clues below start with the
word car. The number of spaces indicate the
number of letters needed to complete the word.
A kind of toffee CAR- - - - Home on wheels CAR- - - -
Your profession CAR - - - - A root vegetable CAR - - -
A large bright flower CAR- - - - - - A song for Christmas CAR - -
Horse drawn vehicle CAR- A joke drawing CAR - - - -
Goods carried by a ship CAR - - Shape a stick CAR - -
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CAR WORDS
The answers to all the clues below start with the
word car. The number of spaces indicate the
number of letters needed to complete the word.
A kind of toffee CARAMEL Home on wheels CARAVAN
Your profession CAREER A root vegetable CARROT
A large bright flowerCARNATION A song for Christmas CAROL
Horse drawn vehicle CART A joke drawing CARTOON
Goods carried by a ship CARGO Shape a stick CARVE
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BAR WORDS
The answers to all the clues below start with the
word bar. The number of spaces indicate the
number of letters needed to complete the word.
A man who cuts hair BAR - - - Voice of a dog BAR -
Flat bottomed boat BAR - - Lawyer BAR - - - - - -
A kind of lord BAR - - Building for soldiers BAR - - - - -
A keg or cast BAR - - - Farm Store BAR -
A outdoor food feast BAR - - - - - Exchange goods BAR - - -
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BAR WORDS
The answers to all the clues below start with the
word bar. The number of spaces indicate the
number of letters needed to complete the word.
A man who cuts hair BARBER Voice of a dog BARK
Flat bottomed boat BARGE Lawyer BARISTER
A kind of lord BARON Building for soldiers BARRACKS
A keg or cast BARREL Farm Store BARN
A outdoor food feast BARBEQUE Exchange goods BARTER
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The Five by Five Square
Each member of the class (or the teacher) shouts
out a letter. Every member of the class then
fits this letter into their grid. You can choose
which square it goes into but it must fit into a
square, but once placed it must stay in that
square. The idea is to make as many words as you
can. You get 10 points for 5 letter words, 5
points for four letter words and 3 points for
three letter words. You get no points for two or
one lettered words. Whoever has the most points
wins the game. Words can be made either across
or down. Proper nouns are not allowed
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Example
PANIC 10 POINTS RIOT 5 POINTS ALOES 10
POINTS TEN 3 POINTS EDITS 10
POINTS PRATE 10 POINTS AILED 10
POINTS NOON 5 POINTS ITEM 5
POINTS COSTS 10 POINTS Total 78
Points
C
I
N
A
P
O
T
O
I
R
S
E
O
L
A
T
M
N
E
T
S
T
I
D
E
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Categories
In this game the teacher will give you seven
letters. The teacher will then give you 4
categories. The idea of the game is for you to
come up with a word for each category starting
with each letter. For instance, if the teacher
says the letters M, A, T, C, H, E and S you write
then across the top of your page or grid. Then if
the teacher says rivers, countries, animals and
boys names, you write them down the side of your
page or grid. You now need to come up with a word
beginning with that letter in each category. For
example
M A T C H E S
River Murray Amazon Thames Congo Hudson Elbe Seine
Country Malta Angola Turkey Canada Hungary Egypt Spain
Animal Monkey Ape Tiger Cat Horse Elephant Skunk
B Name Mike Adam Tony Carl Harry Evan Steve
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Chain letters

• This is a game where the teacher will pick a
  category and you have to think of a word related
  to this category. The next person then has to
  think of a word that begins with the last letter
  of the previous word.
• You are out of the game if you take more than 10
  seconds to think of a word
• You also lose if you repeat a previous word.
• You can win the game by either being the last
  person left
• Or by saying the first word that the chain
  started with. So you have to be careful not to
  end a word with the same letter that the first
  word began with.

The category is