All six Thanksgiving word lists
Read a list before you print to pick the puzzle that suits your child. Each puzzle has its own words — none repeats within a level.
Starter: 8 words · 10 × 10 grid · Across → and down ↓
Starter Puzzle 1
- Turkey
- Pie
- Corn
- Leaf
- Bread
- Family
- Thanks
- Feast
Starter Puzzle 2
- Apple
- Ham
- Peas
- Gravy
- Plate
- Fork
- Spoon
- Table
Starter Puzzle 3
- Fall
- Hay
- Acorn
- Barn
- Farm
- Share
- Hug
- Parade
Explorer: 12 words · 12 × 12 grid · Across →, down ↓ and diagonal ↘
Explorer Puzzle 1
- Pumpkin
- Cranberry
- Stuffing
- Potatoes
- Harvest
- Grateful
- Gathering
- Leftovers
- Squash
- Casserole
- Cornbread
- Dinner
Explorer Puzzle 2
- November
- Thursday
- Football
- Balloons
- Grandma
- Grandpa
- Cousins
- Guests
- Napkin
- Recipe
- Kitchen
- Oven
Explorer Puzzle 3
- Wishbone
- Drumstick
- Gobble
- Feather
- Thankful
- Together
- Maple
- Orchard
- Sweater
- Dessert
- Cinnamon
- Delicious
Which level fits your child?
Both levels suit children aged about 6 to 9, but reading confidence matters more than age. A child who is still sounding out words will enjoy Starter; a child who reads short chapter books is usually ready for Explorer. As a rough guide, Starter suits many 1st and 2nd graders and Explorer many 2nd and 3rd graders. Neither level hides words backward.
Starter · 8 words · 10 × 10
Short, familiar Thanksgiving words of 3–6 letters, like “Turkey”. Words only run across and down, so children can scan one row or column at a time.
Explorer · 12 words · 12 × 12
Longer words of up to 9 letters, like “Cranberry”, in a bigger grid. Words also run diagonally, which asks for more careful looking.
Not sure?
Start with Starter. Finishing a puzzle feels better than giving up halfway, and you can print an Explorer puzzle next time.
Talk about the words
Thanksgiving words are mostly about food, family and the time of year. Here are a few ways to talk about them as each word is found.
What’s on the table?
Turkey, Pie, Corn, Bread, Gravy, Peas and Ham are in Starter; Pumpkin, Cranberry, Stuffing, Potatoes, Squash, Cornbread and Casserole are in Explorer. Which ones will be on your table this year?
Set the table
Plate, Fork, Spoon and Table are all in Starter Puzzle 2, and Napkin is in Explorer Puzzle 2. Children can help set a real table after finding them.
Who’s coming?
Grandma, Grandpa, Cousins and Guests are all in Explorer Puzzle 2. Ask who your child is looking forward to seeing.
Words about thanks
Thanks and Share are short Starter words; Thankful, Grateful and Together are longer ones in Explorer. Each is an easy way into saying what you are thankful for.
Ways to use these Thanksgiving word searches
At the kids’ table
Print one puzzle per child while dinner is cooking. Starter and Explorer side by side let younger and older cousins play together.
Parade morning
Parade and Balloons are in the puzzles too. A calm page is a good fit while the parade is on TV.
The long weekend
Save a puzzle for Friday. Leftovers is in Explorer Puzzle 1, and Wishbone, Gobble and Dessert are in Explorer Puzzle 3.
Printing tips
- Choose US Letter in the United States and Canada, and A4 almost everywhere else. The layout is made separately for each, so nothing is cut off.
- Print at actual size (100%) rather than “fit to page” to keep the letters large and evenly spaced.
- Everything is black and white. Draft or ink-saving mode still leaves the grid easy to read.
- The answer key circles each hidden letter, so it works on a black-and-white printer too.
- Each page carries a small puzzle ID, such as MWS-1594VM4, printed on both the puzzle and its answer key so the pair is easy to match.
Frequently asked questions
Which Thanksgiving word search is easiest?
Starter Puzzle 1: Turkey, Pie, Corn, Leaf, Bread, Family, Thanks and Feast, hidden across and down in a 10 × 10 grid.
Are the words only about food?
No. About a third are food words. The rest cover family (Grandma), the table (Napkin), giving thanks (Grateful), holiday traditions (Thursday, Parade, Football) and the season (November, Fall, Acorn, Maple, Orchard, Harvest).
Can I print these for a Thanksgiving gathering?
Yes. Each puzzle is a single black-and-white page, so it is quick to print several copies, and the answer key is a separate page.
Can I change the words in the Thanksgiving word search?
Yes. Choose “Customize this word search” below the download buttons, or open the word search generator with the Thanksgiving words already filled in. Swap, add or remove words, then download your own puzzle and answer key.
Are these printables free?
Yes. All six puzzles and their answer keys are free PDFs, with no account or email needed.