Activities for seniors
15 Easy Synonym Word Puzzles for Seniors, With Answers
Try 15 easy synonym word puzzles for seniors, with checked answers, sentence clues and simple options for playing aloud or in large print.
How to play the synonym word game
A synonym is a word with the same or a very similar meaning as another word. For example, GLAD and HAPPY are synonyms. Read one prompt, choose or name the closest match, and then use both words in a short sentence if you want an extra round.
The first round offers three choices, the second puts the target word in a sentence, and the third asks for a matching word without choices. Reveal the answer after each round or keep the answer panels covered until the end.
These fifteen puzzles were created for this article and are not sample pages from the linked Growth Lab Press books. There is no timer. A player can answer aloud, write, point to a choice, ask for a hint or pass.
Round 1: choose the closest synonym
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the capitalized word.
- 1. GLAD — happy, late or narrow?
- 2. QUICK — heavy, fast or quiet?
- 3. TINY — rough, small or empty?
- 4. BEGIN — lose, fold or start?
- 5. SILENT — crowded, quiet or cold?
Show answers or guidance
1. HAPPY. 2. FAST. 3. SMALL. 4. START. 5. QUIET.
Round 2: use the sentence clue
Replace the capitalized word with a synonym that keeps the sentence’s meaning. A first-letter hint appears in parentheses.
- 6. The ENORMOUS tree shaded the whole yard. (H)
- 7. Please SELECT one card from the table. (C)
- 8. We will PURCHASE the tickets tomorrow. (B)
- 9. Her reply was BRIEF and clear. (S)
- 10. The path was SIMPLE to follow. (E)
Show answers or guidance
6. HUGE. 7. CHOOSE. 8. BUY. 9. SHORT. 10. EASY. Each answer can replace the capitalized word in its sentence without changing the main idea.
Round 3: name the matching word
Name the intended synonym. Use the clue after the dash if you need help.
- 11. REPAIR — to fix something with needle and thread: ___
- 12. GIFT — something given for a birthday: ___
- 13. ANGRY — another word beginning with M: ___
- 14. TIRED — another word beginning with W: ___
- 15. NEAT — orderly and beginning with T: ___
Show answers or guidance
11. MEND. 12. PRESENT. 13. MAD. 14. WEARY. 15. TIDY.
Why synonyms are not always interchangeable
Synonyms often share a central meaning without matching in every sentence. QUICK and FAST both describe speed, but people usually say a fast car and a quick reply. HUGE and ENORMOUS are both stronger than BIG, while WEARY may suggest deeper tiredness than TIRED.
If someone offers a reasonable alternative, test it in the full sentence. For puzzle 9, CONCISE could also fit, but SHORT is the intended everyday answer because of the first-letter hint. A good alternative is worth discussing even when it is not in the key.
To make another puzzle, choose the answer first, write a sentence where it fits naturally and then check whether the target word can replace it without changing the main idea. Add a first letter or two choices when several answers are possible.
Make the game easier or more challenging
For an easier game, use the three-choice format from round one. Read every choice slowly, repeat the target word and remove one clearly unrelated option. You can also act out a word such as BEGIN or point to an object that is TINY.
For more challenge, hide the first-letter hints and ask for two synonyms. Then compare the shades of meaning: is MAD or FURIOUS closer to ANGRY in this sentence? The goal is to explain the choice, not to race.
In a small group, let one person read the word and another use the answer in a sentence. Switch roles between prompts. Anyone may pass or simply listen, and a sensible word not shown in the key can still count when the group can explain why it fits.
Prepare a clear large-print page
Put one prompt on each line, use strong contrast and leave generous space between choices. Keep the answer key on a separate page so it does not compete with the puzzle.
RNIB explains that large print is generally 16 to 18 point, while the best size depends on the reader. Print one sample first and ask whether the type, spacing and contrast feel comfortable before preparing all fifteen prompts.
If reading from a page is not comfortable, use the same activity aloud. Say the target word first, pause, and then offer the choices one at a time. Repeat the complete pair after the answer: ‘Glad means happy.’
Choose more word activities by style
Our guide to large-print activity books explains how to compare readability, page layout and subjects. The book-selection guide helps families choose an activity style for solo use, a visit or a group.
Memory Activity Workbook for Seniors includes large-print memory recall activities, word games, everyday prompts, conversation starters and reflection pages. Memory Activity Workbook for Seniors, Volume 2 contains 180 large-print word, number, matching, visual, logic, planning and maze activities with complete solutions.
The linked product pages show the current book details. These fifteen synonym puzzles remain a separate free activity created for this blog.
Common questions
What is a synonym puzzle?
It asks the player to find a word with the same or a very similar meaning as the prompt word, such as happy for glad or tiny for small.
Can a synonym puzzle have more than one correct answer?
Yes. Several words may be close in meaning, but the sentence and any first-letter hint identify the intended answer. Accept another answer when it fits the context and the player can explain it.
How can I make synonym puzzles easier?
Offer two or three choices, give the first letter, use the word in a familiar sentence or let the player answer by pointing. Start with everyday pairs such as glad and happy.
Can this word game be played without writing?
Yes. Read each word and its choices aloud. The player can say an answer, point to a printed choice or ask for another clue.
Sources and further reading
Published by Growth Lab Press. Read our editorial standards.
