Get into the holiday spirit with these free Thanksgiving word search printables featuring five different difficulty levels for kids, teens, and adults.
From an easy puzzle with simple words to a challenging expert version, there is a word search here for just about every skill level. The easy and medium word searches were designed especially with younger kids in mind. They feature simple black-and-white Thanksgiving illustrations that children can color before or after completing the puzzle. The harder versions have more detailed full-color designs, denser grids, and longer word lists that are better suited for older kids, teens, and grown-ups.
These free Thanksgiving printables are perfect for keeping kids entertained at the Thanksgiving table, adding to your November classroom activities, using during homeschool lessons, or enjoying as a quiet screen-free activity while Thanksgiving dinner is cooking. Simply choose the difficulty level that works best for you, print it out, and start searching!
Free Printable Thanksgiving Word Searches
There are five versions to choose from, ranging from kid-friendly to expert level.
| Word Search | Difficulty | Best For | Words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Beginner | Younger kids | 8 |
| Medium | Moderate | Elementary-age kids | 10 |
| Hard | Challenging | Older kids | 10 |
| Harder | More Challenging | Older kids and teens | 12 |
| Expert | Most Challenging | Teens and adults | 25 |
Easy Word Search
This easy one is a great place for younger kids and beginning readers to start. It has a simple puzzle with eight short fall words that are easier for little ones to recognize.
Words are hidden horizontally from left to right and vertically from top to bottom only. There are no backward or diagonal ones, making this the best option for younger children.
The large turkey illustration also doubles as a coloring activity, so kids can decorate the page when they finish finding all the hidden words. It is a fun option for early elementary students, Thanksgiving parties, or the kids’ table on Thanksgiving Day.
Words to Find: Turkey, Pie, Corn, Fall, Leaf, Feast, Table, Thanks
Print the easy puzzle along with its matching answer key for a quick Thanksgiving activity that requires almost no preparation.
Medium Thanksgiving Puzzle
Kids who are ready for a little more of a challenge can try this medium puzzle printable. It includes ten autumn-themed words and a larger group of letters to search through.
Words can appear horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, but they are all written forward rather than backward. This adds a little more challenge while still keeping the puzzle manageable for kids.
Like the easy version, this printable features black-and-white Thanksgiving illustrations that kids can color. This makes it both a puzzle and a simple Thanksgiving coloring page in one.
Words to Find: Pumpkin, Stuffing, Family, Dinner, Gravy, Autumn, Parade, Acorn, Friends, Gobble
This version is a good choice for elementary-age kids who find the easy puzzle too simple but are not quite ready for the harder version.
Hard Thanksgiving Word Search
This hard one steps up the difficulty with longer holiday vocabulary and a more challenging puzzle grid. Words are hidden in six of the eight possible directions.
This puzzle works well for older elementary kids, middle schoolers, and anyone who wants an activity that takes a little longer to complete.
Words to Find: Harvest, Pilgrim, Cranberry, November, Gratitude, Tradition, Cornucopia, Celebration, Thanksgiving, Mayflower
Harder Word Search
Ready for an even bigger challenge? The harder Thanksgiving word search features longer words and a denser puzzle that requires more careful searching. Words can be hidden in all eight directions, including forward, backward, vertically, and diagonally in either direction. The longer vocabulary and denser grid make this a much tougher search for older kids, teens, or adults.
Words to Find: Abundance, Gathering, Thankful, Appreciation, Gratitude, Tradition, Togetherness, Centerpiece, Leftovers, Homemade, Blessings, Plymouth
Expert Version
For experienced puzzle solvers, this expert word search is the most challenging printable in the collection. The expert puzzle also hides words in all eight directions, but increases the challenge with a much larger grid and 25 hidden words. Words can run forward, backward, vertically, and diagonally, so solvers have many more possible places to search. Having so many words hidden in the grid also makes it harder to spot the ones you need, even when the vocabulary itself is familiar. This version is fun for teens, adults, and anyone who enjoys a challenge.
Words to Find: Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Cornucopia, Celebration, Togetherness, Hospitality, Appreciation, Tradition, Cranberry, Harvest, November, Gathering, Blessings, Family, Turkey, Stuffing, Pumpkin, Gravy, Feast, Parade, Autumn, Acorn, Pie, Corn, Gobble
How to Print Them
Open the printable PDF for the puzzle you want and print it on standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Regular copy paper works well for everyday use. If your child plans to color one of the first two puzzles with markers, you may prefer slightly heavier paper.
Check your printer settings before printing to make sure the entire page fits correctly. You can also print only the puzzle page if you do not need a physical copy of the answer key.
Fun Ways to Use These Printables
There are plenty of ways to use these free Thanksgiving activities throughout November. Print them for a classroom, homeschool, Thanksgiving parties, family gatherings, or a screen-free November activity for kids while dinner is being prepared.
They are also easy to set out at the Thanksgiving kids’ table with crayons or colored pencils. Younger children can complete the puzzle and then color the illustrations while they wait for the big feast.
You can also turn it into a family activity and print several different difficulty levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
The collection was designed for a wide range of ages and skill levels. The Easy and Medium puzzles are best suited to younger kids, while the Hard and Harder versions provide more of a challenge for older children and teens. The Expert puzzle is ideal for experienced solvers, teens, and adults.
Yes. Each puzzle has a corresponding answer key so you can quickly locate any words that are difficult to find.
Yes. The printable PDF format makes it easy to download, save, and print the puzzles whenever you need a quick Thanksgiving activity.
More Thanksgiving Activities for Kids
Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Flipboard, or Instagram for more inspiration on crafts, DIY, free printables, and recipes!
Leave a Reply