Games To Teach Vocabulary

ACTIVITIES CAN MAKE VOCABULARY
MORE FUN AND INTERACTIVE
Here are 30 games you can use in the Activate part of a lesson, designed to engage students in
communicative activities that actively use the target language. You can press the link to get the description
of the games.
1. Spot the vocabulary

2. Collocation pelmanism
3. Quick revision games
4. Word association recitation
5. The revision box
6. The comparison game
7. Stop the bus
8. Adopt a word
9. Lexical threads
10. The memory game
11. Making it up - Phrasal verb stories
12. Word grid
13. Poetic introductions / Picture game
14. Snake-word
15. Definitions - Get rid of it
16. Word guessing games
17. Wall dictionary
18. Same, opposite, or different dictation
19. Vocabulary box
20. Hot seat
21. Vocabulary phonemic revision activity
22. Vocabulary self-study activities
Here are 30 more game-like activities you can use during the Activate part of your vocabulary
lessons. These activities will help students practice and reinforce their understanding of new words
engagingly:
1. Word Bingo
Create bingo cards with vocabulary words. As you call out definitions or synonyms, students mark the
corresponding word.
2. Vocabulary Charades
Students act out a vocabulary word without speaking, and others guess the word.
3. Pictionary
Students draw a picture representing the vocabulary word, and their teammates guess the word.
4. Hot Seat
One student sits with their back to the board. The teacher or a peer writes a vocabulary word on the
board, and others give clues until the student guesses it.
5. Memory Match
Create a set of cards with vocabulary words and their definitions. Students play a memory-matching
game to pair them.
6. Taboo
Students describe a vocabulary word without using a list of "taboo" words.
7. Hangman
Play hangman with vocabulary words, offering definitions or sentences as clues.
8. Word Association Chain

One student says a vocabulary word, and the next says a word related to it, continuing around the room.
9. Word Scramble
Scramble the letters of a vocabulary word, and students race to unscramble them.
10. 20 Questions
One student thinks of a vocabulary word, and others ask yes/no questions to figure it out within 20
questions.
11. Vocabulary Jeopardy

Create a Jeopardy-style game with categories like “Synonyms,” “Antonyms,” “Definitions,” and
“Usage.”
12. Ball Toss Definition

Toss a ball to a student, say a vocabulary word, and they have to define tossing it to the next person.
13. Simon Says Vocabulary

Play Simon Says but with vocabulary words. For example, "Simon says, show me ‘jump’!"
14. Word Race

Students race to the board in teams and write the correct vocabulary word based on a given definition.
15. Picture Matching

Provide pictures that represent vocabulary words, and students match the words to the correct images.
16. Sentence Building Relay

In teams, students take turns adding a word to form a sentence using given vocabulary words.
17. Word Search Creation

Have students create their word search using vocabulary words, then swap and solve each other’s
puzzles.
18. Who Am I?
Each student receives a vocabulary word card. They go around asking yes/no questions to figure out
what word they have.
19. Four Corners Vocabulary

Label the four corners of the room with vocabulary-related categories (synonyms, antonyms, definitions,
usage). Call out a word, and students move to the correct corner.
20. Vocabulary Board Game

Create a simple board game where students advance by defining or using vocabulary words correctly.
21. Synonym/Antonym Challenge
Have students work in pairs to come up with as many synonyms or antonyms for a vocabulary word
within a time limit.
22. Speed Writing

Set a timer for 1 minute, and students write as many sentences as they can using the vocabulary words.
23. Crossword Puzzle

Create a crossword puzzle with vocabulary words and clues.
24. Word Ladder

Give a starting word and an ending word. Students must change one letter at a time to form new words
until they reach the target word.
25. Vocabulary Detective

Hide vocabulary word cards around the classroom. Students must "find" the words and write a sentence
using each.
26. Odd One Out

Give students a group of four words, one of which doesn’t fit. They must identify the odd one out and
explain why.
27. Story Building

Start a story using one vocabulary word. Students take turns continuing the story, adding a vocabulary
word in each sentence.
28. Role Play

Assign vocabulary words to students and have them act out a situation where they use the words in
context.
29. Pass the Parcel Vocabulary

Wrap a small object in layers of paper. Inside each layer, place a vocabulary word. When the music
stops, the student holding the parcel defines or uses the word they unwrapped.
30. Vocabulary Jigsaw

Cut up definitions and vocabulary words. Students must match them correctly by piecing the "jigsaw"
back together.
These activities will make vocabulary learning fun and interactive while helping students engage
with the words in multiple ways!

Games To Teach Vocabulary

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ACTIVITIES CAN MAKE VOCABULARY

MORE FUN AND INTERACTIVE

1. Spot the vocabulary

8. Word Association Chain

11. Vocabulary Jeopardy

12. Ball Toss Definition

13. Simon Says Vocabulary

14. Word Race

15. Picture Matching

16. Sentence Building Relay

17. Word Search Creation

19. Four Corners Vocabulary

20. Vocabulary Board Game

22. Speed Writing

23. Crossword Puzzle

24. Word Ladder

25. Vocabulary Detective

26. Odd One Out

27. Story Building

28. Role Play

29. Pass the Parcel Vocabulary

30. Vocabulary Jigsaw

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