Brain Teasers
Puzzles for Word Play Pros!
Brain teasers puzzles and other word play activities are all a great way to encourage spelling skills vocabulary development. On this page, you'll solve several magic word squares. Warning: Some are quite difficult.
We also have several easier
magic word squares that are great for kids of all ages.
What is a magic word square?
In a magic word square, the same words are spelled across and down. Here's a simple example of a 3-letter by 3-letter square.
See if you can solve each of these challenging brain teaser puzzles and work some magic of your own. (Don't worry! I'll supply clues for all the words in each puzzle!)
Here's a preview of the printable pages. Use the link to get all the printable word puzzles and answers. The full text also appears below for your convenience.
All 6 Printable Word Puzzles
Answers
Puzzle #1
1. Use these clues to complete the puzzle. These clues are written in the same order that the words appear in the puzzle.
A. nil
B. not odd
C. genuine
D. lone
Puzzle #2
This time, the clues are not
in the correct order.
One letter is placed in the puzzle to help you get started.
A.
consumer
B. silent
C. makes a mistake
D. rip
Puzzle #3
Once again, the clues are not in the correct order, and one letter has been placed in the puzzle.
A.
questions
B. a muddle
C. group of players
D. otherwise
Puzzle #4
In this magic square, you need to place five-letter words in the puzzle. These clues are in the correct order.
A. slogan
B. edible bulb
C. layers
D. rich cake
E. beginning
Puzzle #5
In this magic square, you need to place five-letter words in the puzzle. These clues are not in order. Two letters have been placed for you.
A.
cadence
B. subsequent to
C. criminal burning of property
D. macaroni, spaghetti, etc.
E. stalks of flowers
Puzzle #6
Here’s the final magic square challenge. The clues are not in order.
A.
unhappily
B. birds’ homes
C. elf
D. past tense of stand
E. superfluous
You can view all of the answers here.
If you want a tough challenge, try this pair of brain teasers puzzles for adults and upper grade students. You'll have to figure out which words are spelled incorrectly, and use those as hints to uncover hidden messages. Unique, difficult and FUN!
More Brain Teasers Puzzles & Word Play Pages:
Brain Teaser
Questions and Answers - Quick word transformations,
brainstorming and word play challenges
An Impossible Brain
Teaser? - Sure, the directions are tricky, but adults and
upper grade students can solve this the first time, right?
Travel Teaser - One of our most difficult logic brain teasers. Can you figure out who went where and when?
Hidden Words - Put your logic skills to the test on this entertaining word brain teaser.
Brain Teaser Crosswords
Learning Locations - You have probably heard of these 22 American colleges and universities. But do you know where they're located? Find out when you try this challenging crossword puzzle!
Doctor, Doctor! Supply the names of 20 different kinds of medical specialists. Will you pass your check-up?
Second Place Trivia - Can you name the second longest river, the second least densely populated country, and more? Try this challenging free crossword puzzle and find out!
Anagram Crossword: Can you choose the correct anagram for each five-letter clue to correctly complete this puzzling puzzler???
Synonym Crossword: Can you solve this mammoth-sized challenge? For each clue you must select a synonym that fits into the diagram.
More Spelling Resources
We have lots of spelling games and worksheets for kids, and plenty of spelling tips and practice for adult learners. Here are just a few of our most popular pages:
Spelling Bee
Games
- Try one of our new Silent Spelling Bee variations. A
fun--and
quiet--twist on a classic game! Students love to spelling GAMES as a nice change from rote practice, and these spelling bee variations are two of the best group games. You may also enjoy this Spelling Baseball Group Game.
Try
our Online
Spelling Game for Homonym Practice! Best
for upper elementary, middle school, high school students and even
adults. Fun and easy to use.
Printable
spelling reproducibles - Mini word
search puzzles: Students must spot the correct spelling of
troublesome words.
Wacky
packages!
- Find the spelling errors on these whimsical boxes. One of
our most popular pages!
It Pay$ to
$ Spell!:
Combine math skills and spelling practice in these fun pages that you
can use with any spelling words throughout the year.
Croaky
Meets the Plumber and Extra Letters Worksheets:
Students chose the correctly spelled words to complete an interesting
story or eliminate extra letters to solve a word puzzle. Based on our
sixth grade spelling word list.
Pull-Apart Synonyms - Extremely challenging free word scramble game! Can you pull apart these letters, without rearranging them, to spell a pair of synonyms? Is this as easy as it sounds???
Cryptogram Worksheet: Puzzle page for upper grades. Includes instructions so students, parents or teachers can make more cryptogram puzzles with any word list. One of our best types of brain teasers puzzles.
Ann Richmond Fisher is a longtime published educational writer, a former classroom teacher and a former homeschool teacher. Ann's spelling bee resources, graded spelling word lists, spelling games, worksheets, and other language arts resources have become respected around the globe since she launched Spelling-Words-Well in 2010.
Ann is also the creator of www.word-game-world.com.
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Spelling Bee Lists for 7th and 8th Grade Students
Our spelling bee lists are ready to use, for grades 2 and up. This page features challenging words for upper grades. Use for study or for classroom competitions.
101 Word Play Puzzlers Discover the FUN of letters & words as you solve each unique puzzle. Great vocabulary & spelling practice!
AnyWord Spelling Practice Series Fun Worksheets, games & prompts that work with almost ANY spelling words!
300 Spelling Bee Words by Grade Level, with definitions, sentences and languages
Spelling Bee Toolboxes for Grades 3/5 and 6/8 All the resources you need for a successful bee!
Mammoth Spelling Bee Word Lists with sentences, definitions, and languages
Monumental Spelling Bee Word Lists with definitions, sentences and languages
Young Spellers Spelling Bee Word List for Grades 1 & 2
100 Difficult Spelling Bee Words, Definitions & Sentences My toughest lists, for upper grades and adults!
600 Spelling Bee Words & Sentences for Gr 3/5 & 6/8 Extra words & sentences at two levels
