Free Thanksgiving Word Search Printable
This free printable Thanksgiving word search includes 15 Thanksgiving-themed words for kids to find, plus a complete answer key.
Words include turkey, pumpkin, pilgrims, harvest, gratitude, family, and more. They’re hidden horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and backward to make the puzzle a little more challenging.
It’s an easy, screen-free Thanksgiving activity for the classroom or at home, and kids can color the turkey illustrations when they’ve finished finding all the words.
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Thanksgiving Word Search Puzzle
The free printable word search has 15 hidden words, with a separate answer key included in the PDF.
Words can appear horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and backward. Some letters are also shared between words, so kids will need to look carefully.
Once they’ve found all 15 words, they can color the Thanksgiving pictures on the page.
Tip: Have kids circle each word or use a highlighter as they find it so they can easily keep track.
Thanksgiving Word Bank
The 15 Thanksgiving Day words hidden in the puzzle are:
- Gravy
- November
- Turkey
- Gratitude
- Football
- Cooking
- Festival
- Harvest
- Family
- Friends
- Corn
- Autumn
- Pilgrims
- Leaves
- Pumpkin
For another easy Thanksgiving game, try our Thanksgiving trivia printable, with multiple-choice questions and answers.
Thanksgiving Books for Kids
If you want to extend the activity, pair the word search with a Thanksgiving book.
History Smashers: The Mayflower is a good choice for older elementary kids, with a more detailed look at the Mayflower voyage and some of the myths surrounding it.
For younger readers, Thanksgiving on Thursday from the Magic Tree House series combines a Thanksgiving story with history, while Pilgrims: A Nonfiction Companion is a good option for kids who want to learn more about the Mayflower and life in Plymouth.
More Free Thanksgiving Activities
Looking for another Thanksgiving activity? Try our Thanksgiving word scramble for another vocabulary puzzle, or build your own word search with any Thanksgiving words you choose.
You can also try our Thanksgiving scavenger hunt, Thanksgiving scattergories, Thanksgiving coloring pages, or Thanksgiving bookmarks to color for more screen-free activities.
For a writing activity, use our Thanksgiving acrostic poems to get kids thinking about thankfulness and gratitude.
Want All Our Thanksgiving Activities In One Place?
Get Your Free Printable Thanksgiving Word Search PDF
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Last Updated on 29 September 2026 by Clare Brown
