Thanksgiving Word Scrambles

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Thanksgiving word scrambles at three levels, with picture hints, word banks and secret messages, all with keys.

Download the thanksgiving word scramble worksheets

Easy (K–2)

Short words with picture hints or a word bank.

  • Preview of the printable “Thanksgiving word scramble (Easy)” worksheet: unscrambling and spelling Thanksgiving words (pie, cup, corn)View all 2 pages

    Thanksgiving word scramble (Easy)

    Unscrambling and spelling Thanksgiving words (pie, cup, corn)

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages479 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Thanksgiving short word scramble (Easy)” worksheet: unscrambling and spelling Thanksgiving words (gravy, rolls, fall)View all 2 pages

    Thanksgiving short word scramble (Easy)

    Unscrambling and spelling Thanksgiving words (gravy, rolls, fall)

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages49 KB

Medium (3rd–4th)

Longer words with a word bank, including a secret message puzzle.

  • Preview of the printable “Thanksgiving word scramble (Medium)” worksheet: unscrambling and spelling Thanksgiving words (thankful, cranberry, squash)View all 2 pages

    Thanksgiving word scramble (Medium)

    Unscrambling and spelling Thanksgiving words (thankful, cranberry, squash)

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages55 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Thanksgiving secret message word scramble (Medium)” worksheet: unscrambling Thanksgiving words to spell a secret message (giving, pie, gravy)View all 2 pages

    Thanksgiving secret message word scramble (Medium)

    Unscrambling Thanksgiving words to spell a secret message (giving, pie, gravy)

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages58 KB

Hard (5th and up)

Long words with no word bank, including a secret message puzzle.

  • Preview of the printable “Thanksgiving word Scramble: hard” worksheet: unscrambling and spelling Thanksgiving words (cornucopia, centerpiece, gratitude)View all 2 pages

    Thanksgiving word Scramble: hard

    Unscrambling and spelling Thanksgiving words (cornucopia, centerpiece, gratitude)

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages55 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Thanksgiving secret message word Scramble: hard” worksheet: unscrambling Thanksgiving words to spell a secret message (wishbone, centerpiece, thanksgiving)View all 2 pages

    Thanksgiving secret message word Scramble: hard

    Unscrambling Thanksgiving words to spell a secret message (wishbone, centerpiece, thanksgiving)

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages55 KB

About these thanksgiving word scramble worksheets

Unscrambling words is spelling practice in disguise. These free Thanksgiving word scramble printables come in three levels: easy sheets with short words, picture hints and a word bank; medium sheets with longer words and a word bank; and hard sheets with long words and no bank.

Secret message sheets add a twist: one box in each answer is ringed, and the ringed letters spell a holiday message (GIVE THANKS and BE GRATEFUL). Every answer has been checked so its letters make only one real word, so there is never a second right answer.

Every sheet has an answer key on page 2. For more holiday puzzles, try the Thanksgiving word search and Thanksgiving crossword pages.

Standards

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.2.DUse conventional spelling for words with common spelling patterns and for frequently occurring irregular words.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.2.DGeneralize learned spelling patterns when writing words (e.g., cage → badge; boy → boil).
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.DSpell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.2.ESpell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

How to use them

  1. Easy: look at the picture, say the word, then find it in the word bank and write it in the boxes.
  2. Medium and hard: count the boxes to know how long each word is, and start with the letters you are sure of.
  3. Secret message sheets: solve every word first, then copy the ringed letters in order.

Teaching tips

  • Have children look for common chunks such as -ing, -er, th and sh in the scrambled letters.
  • If a child is stuck, give the first letter, then let them try again.
  • Use a secret message sheet as a whole-class race to read the message.

Questions teachers and parents ask

Can a scrambled word have two answers?

No. Each answer was checked against a large dictionary, and any word whose letters spell another real word was left out, so every scramble has exactly one answer.

How does the secret message work?

Each answer has one ringed box. When every word is solved, children write the ringed letters in order to read a holiday message.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Page 2 of every sheet shows each answer and the secret message.