How to play Word Scramble
Each puzzle has twelve words on one theme, such as Thanksgiving, birds or the garden. The letters of each word have been mixed up, and your job is to put them back in order. It's a gentle, satisfying puzzle that keeps the mind busy, and a good one to share: read the letters out and see who spots the word first.
Spelling a word
- Tap the mixed-up letters in the order they spell the word. Each letter moves up into the answer spaces.
- Tapped the wrong letter? Tap it in the answer spaces to take it back, or tap Clear to start the word again.
- On a computer you can type instead: each letter you type uses a matching tile, and Backspace takes the last one back.
- When the word is right, it turns green and the next word appears. If all the spaces are full but it isn't the word, they turn pink: take a letter or two back and try again.
Helpful buttons
- Shuffle mixes the letters into a new order. A fresh arrangement often makes the word jump out.
- Hint places the next correct letter for you, in gold, and keeps any letters that were already right.
- Skip for now moves on to the next word. You can come back to any word by tapping its number at the top.
- Settings lets you choose from twenty themes. The game starts with a theme for the season.
Tips
- Think about the theme first. List a few words you'd expect, then check whether their letters are there.
- Look for familiar pairs and endings, like TH, CH, SH, ST, ING and ER.
- Use the number of spaces. It tells you how long the word is.
- Start with the easy ones. Skip a stubborn word and come back to it. It often looks obvious later.
Questions
What if I spell a different real word?
Some letters can spell more than one word: the letters of STEAL also make SLATE. The game looks for the word that fits the theme, so if your word isn't accepted, think about the theme and try another order, or use a hint.
Can I print it?
Yes. Every puzzle has a large-print printable version with an answer key: use the link under the game, or browse our printable word scrambles. The puzzle number is the same online and on paper.
Is there a daily puzzle?
Yes. Today's puzzle is the same for everyone and has its own theme each day. Solve it to keep your daily streak going.
Is there a timer?
No. Take as long as you like. Your puzzle saves itself after every letter, so you can stop and come back later on the same device.