34 picture riddles and rebus puzzles with answers

Each picture is made of letters, words and numbers. Where a word sits, how often it repeats and which way it reads spell out a word or phrase. Name it, then reveal the answer.

Updated 2026-09-27

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The prompt cards use 5 sheets, with up to 8 cards on each. Sets with answers include extra pages for the key.

Difficulty What the difficulty bands mean

Over, under and on

Which saying does this picture show?
```
MIND
MATTER
```
easy
Mind over matter.
MIND is written over MATTER. The saying means your will can win over a physical problem.
Why was this person late?
```
I
SLEPT
```
easy
I overslept.
The letter I sits over the word SLEPT.
How do many fairy tales begin?
```
ONCE
A TIME
```
easy
Once upon a time.
ONCE sits upon A TIME.
Which saying does this picture show?
```
BRIDGE
WATER
```
medium
Water under the bridge.
WATER is under BRIDGE. The saying means an old problem that no longer matters.
What kind of spy is this?
```
COVER
AGENT
```
medium
An undercover agent.
AGENT is under COVER.
What do people wear on a very cold day?
```
WEAR
LONG
```
medium
Long underwear.
LONG is under WEAR.
How would you like your eggs cooked?
```
EGGS
EASY
```
medium
Eggs over easy.
EGGS is over EASY. Eggs over easy are fried on both sides and keep a runny yolk.
What is this worker doing wrong?
```
SLEEPING
JOB
```
easy
Sleeping on the job.
SLEEPING is on top of JOB.
How did the train arrive?
```
RIGHT
TIME
```
easy
Right on time.
RIGHT is on top of TIME.
Where is this trip going?
```
TRAVEL
C C C C C
```
hard
Travel overseas.
TRAVEL is over the C's, and C's sounds like seas: travel over seas.

Inside

Who do people say they can see in the night sky?
```
moMANon
```
medium
The man in the moon.
MAN is inside MOON: MO, then MAN, then ON.
Which phrase means that something is very easy?
```
paWALKrk
```
medium
A walk in the park.
WALK is inside PARK: PA, then WALK, then RK.
What do we say about someone who is always daydreaming?
```
cloHEADuds
```
medium
Their head is in the clouds.
HEAD is inside CLOUDS: CLO, then HEAD, then UDS.
What is the best shot in golf?
```
HO1LE
```
easy
A hole in one.
The number 1 is inside HOLE.
Which saying about an important person does this picture show?
```
poFISHnd
```
hard
A big fish in a small pond.
FISH is in big capital letters inside the word pond, which is written small. The saying means someone who matters a lot in a small group.
What do we call two friends who are always together?
```
poPPd
```
medium
Two peas in a pod.
Two P's, which sound like peas, sit inside POD.

Shapes and lines

What kind of meal is this?
```
+------+
| MEAL |
+------+
```
easy
A square meal.
MEAL is inside a square. A square meal is a full, filling one.
What advice does this picture give?
```
+-----+
|     | THINK
+-----+
```
easy
Think outside the box.
THINK is written outside the box. The saying means look for a new way to solve a problem.
What kind of puzzle is this?
```
 W
WORD
 R
 D
```
easy
A crossword.
Two copies of WORD cross each other at the O.
Which phrase means finding a meaning nobody said out loud?
```
R|E|A|D|I|N|G
```
medium
Reading between the lines.
The letters of READING sit between lines.
What are you doing when you avoid saying what you mean?
```
     BEAT
BEAT BUSH BEAT
     BEAT
```
medium
Beating around the bush.
BEAT is written all around BUSH.

Which way it reads

Which part of a city is this?
```
T
O
W
N
```
easy
Downtown.
TOWN is written going down.
Where should you turn your eyes?
```
K
O
O
L
```
easy
Look up.
LOOK is spelled from the bottom going up.
What did the old car's engine just do with a loud bang?
```
ERIF
```
medium
Backfire.
FIRE is written backward.
What happens right before a rocket launch?
```
3
2
1
```
easy
A countdown.
The numbers count down from 3 to 1, and they run down the page.
Which greeting is this?
```
NOON GOOD
```
medium
Good afternoon.
GOOD comes after NOON.
What is for breakfast?
```
GESG
```
easy
Scrambled eggs.
The letters of EGGS are scrambled.

Counting and sounds

How long does this picture say something lasts?
```
EVER EVER
EVER EVER
```
easy
Forever.
There are four EVERs, and "four ever" sounds like forever.
What is this an invitation to?
```
T 4 2
```
medium
Tea for two.
T sounds like tea, 4 sounds like for and 2 sounds like two.
What does this picture warn you about?
```
TROUBLE
TROUBLE
```
easy
Double trouble.
TROUBLE is written twice, so it is doubled.
Which saying about the past is this?
```
HISTORY
HISTORY
HISTORY
```
medium
History repeats itself.
HISTORY is written again and again: it repeats itself.
What is wrong with this person's eyesight?
```
SSEEEEIINNGG
```
easy
Seeing double.
Every letter of SEEING is written twice.
Which perfect place is this?
```
DICE DICE
```
hard
Paradise.
Two DICE make a pair of dice, which sounds like paradise.
Which nursery rhyme is this?
```
MCE MCE MCE
```
hard
Three blind mice.
There are three MICE, each missing its I, so the mice have no eyes.

Plan the round and team scores

Seconds per turnTurns in the session

8 turns × 60 seconds = 8 minutes of play, plus instructions and breaks.

These are adjustable house rules. Pause whenever the group needs more time.

Team 1: 0

Team 2: 0

Use this set with a group

Read a prompt, allow thinking time, then invite an answer or a pass. For a timed round, choose a turn length before starting. A host can keep the printed answers out of view until the round ends.

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