How to play Thanksgiving bingo

Thanksgiving bingo keeps everyone at the table busy while the turkey rests, and it works just as well in class the week before the holiday. Each player gets a 5 by 5 card filled with Thanksgiving words. One person calls words at random. The first player with five marked squares in a row wins.

How to play

1. Hand out the cards. Every player needs a different card, or several players will win at once. Give each player a pen, or use dried corn kernels or candy corn as markers.

2. Call the words. The caller reads words from the list below in any order and crosses each one off. Players mark the square if the word is on their card. The middle square is free and counts for everyone.

3. Five in a row wins. Across, down or corner to corner. The winner calls "Bingo!" and reads the five words out so the caller can check them against the crossed off list.

4. Play another round. Keep the same cards and play for the four corners, a big X, or the first full card.

40 Thanksgiving words for the caller

These are the 40 words on our cards. Read them in random order; cutting the list into slips and drawing them from a hat works well.

• Turkey
• Pumpkin pie
• Stuffing
• Gravy
• Cranberry
• Mashed potatoes
• Corn
• Apple pie
• Wishbone
• Pilgrim
• Mayflower
• Harvest
• Autumn
• Leaves
• Acorn
• Scarecrow
• Hay ride
• Football
• Parade
• Family
• Friends
• Grateful
• Thankful
• Feast
• Rolls
• Sweet potato
• Green beans
• Pecan pie
• Gourd
• Cornucopia
• Apple cider
• Maple
• Oven
• Leftovers
• Napkins
• Candles
• Table
• Recipe
• Nap
• Dessert

Tips for small and large groups

With 5 players or fewer, play for a full card so the game lasts longer. With 20 or more, play for a single line and keep a second small prize ready, because two players often finish on the same word. For young children, read each word twice and point to a picture if you have one. Print one or two spare cards for guests who arrive late for dinner.

Printable Thanksgiving bingo cards

Want to try it first? Our five free bingo cards and the caller list are a free download.

For a bigger group, the Thanksgiving Games pack has 50 different bingo cards with these 40 words and the caller list, plus a word scramble, word search, trivia and "I am thankful for" cards. 60 pages in US Letter and A4.

Only need bingo? The 50 bingo cards and caller list are also sold on their own for $2.