3 Vocabulary Games Your Students Will Love

If you love teaching vocabulary through movement, mystery, and laughter, this post is for you. I’ve pulled together 85 quirky vocabulary questions you can use in three ready-to-play vocabulary games for the classroom: Jeopardy, Would You Rather, and trail-style board games. Whether you’re reviewing word meanings, exploring etymology, or just sneaking some joy into your literacy block, these activities make vocabulary unforgettable.

Best of all? I’ve included links to free editable game templates so you can plug the questions in and start playing right away.

✨ Don’t miss the handout—it includes teacher instructions, print-and-play question sets, word banks, and answer keys.

3 Vocabulary Games for the Classroom

Vocabulary Jeopardy: Quirky Words Edition

Jeopardy is a classroom favorite, and with a few playful twists, it becomes a powerful vocabulary game. In this version, students explore:

Words that sound fake but are real
Old-fashioned favorites we rarely use today
Borrowed words from around the world
Archaic terms that once ruled the page
Words that flipped their meaning over time

How it works:

Choose a Jeopardy template (Google Slides, Flippity, PowerPoint, etc.).
Copy and paste the questions provided in the handout.
Give students the word bank so they can match definitions to terms.
Optional: Add a timer or buzzer for extra energy!

Students can play in teams, solo, or small groups—digitally or in person.

Free Jeopardy templates for teachers:

Watch It in Action:

Edtech expert Richard Byrne walks you through how to set up and run a Jeopardy-style game using Google Slides. It’s a quick, 4-minute demo that makes classroom setup easy.

Would You Rather… With Words You’ve Never Heard?

What happens when you mix quirky vocabulary with a classic classroom game? You get a “Would You Rather” activity that’s equal parts silly and skill-rich.

Students face choices like:

Would you rather absquatulate during math class or get the collywobbles before lunch?

Here’s the twist: before choosing, students must look up the definitions. This sparks curiosity, builds context skills, and makes vocabulary personal.

Ways to play:

Use it as a warm-up or brain break.
Turn it into a writing prompt or journal activity.
Run it as a station where students create their own “Would You Rather” questions.

Free Templates to Build Your Game

Want to play digitally? These free templates make setup easy:

Just copy and paste the questions, share the word bank, and let the vocabulary adventure begin.

Vocabulary Trail Games: Question Cards for Any Gameboard

If your students love dice rolls, spinners, and moving around, trail games are perfect. I’ve created 48 multiple-choice question cards that can be paired with any board game—printable, digital, or even taped on your classroom floor.

How to use the cards:

Print and cut the question cards.
Stack them near the board or spinner.
Students answer a question before each move—correct = roll again or move forward.
Play in small groups or as a whole class.

Trail-Style Board Games

These are classic path-following games where students move along a trail by rolling dice or spinning. These question cards fit perfectly as a “must answer before moving” mechanic.

Mixed PowerPoint Games

Kevin Culpepper offers The Feuding Wheel of Knowledge, Jeopardy, Millionaire, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, Celebrity Squares, Weakest Link, Chain Reaction, and Class Feud.
Template.net has 17+ PowerPoint Game templates.

Why These Vocabulary Games Work

These three formats—Jeopardy, Would You Rather, and Trail Games—offer flexible and engaging vocabulary games for the classroom. They work perfectly as:

literacy station activities
whole-class review games
brain breaks with a purpose
vocabulary extension for early finishers

Each game includes ready-to-use questions, word banks, and teacher tips, along with free templates so setup is quick and classroom-friendly.

Let the vocabulary adventures begin!

Get the handout here.

See the other posts in this series.

Check out the full collection here:

Vocabulary Activities Bundle Grades 4–6 | Games, Word Work, Roots, Monthly Theme

Yearlong Vocabulary Practice Growing Bundle Printable & Digital Grades 4–6