Sports Crossword Puzzle (free printable)
A free sports crossword with thirteen words and clues for grades 2 to 5: soccer, basketball, tennis, referee, whistle, trophy, helmet and more, with numbered squares and an answer key.
To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheets print.
All 13 words are in the crossword (15 × 13 squares).
About this set
Thirteen sports words, each with a clue in plain language: the game where players mostly kick a ball into a net, the official who makes sure players follow the rules, the small tool a referee blows to stop play, a cup given to the winners. The answers cover a spread of games (soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, swimming, gymnastics), the equipment (whistle, helmet, goal) and the people and prizes that go with them (team, coach, referee, trophy). No team, league or player is named, so it suits any school. Leave the word bank on for second grade, turn it off for fifth, and press Make another for a new layout.
Grades: 2nd to 5th grade. Best in: May, June, September.
The words and clues
- Soccer :
- A game where players mostly kick a ball into a net, without using their hands
- Basketball :
- A game where players dribble a ball and shoot it through a hoop
- Baseball :
- A game with bats, bases and a pitcher who throws to a batter
- Tennis :
- A game played with rackets and a small ball over a net
- Swimming :
- Moving through water by using your arms and legs
- Gymnastics :
- A sport of flips, rolls and balance on a beam, a floor or bars
- Referee :
- The official who makes sure players follow the rules
- Coach :
- A person who trains a team and helps players get better
- Whistle :
- The small tool a referee blows to stop play
- Trophy :
- A cup or statue given to the winners
- Team :
- A group of players who work together to win
- Goal :
- The place where players try to score in soccer or hockey
- Helmet :
- A hard hat that protects your head when you bike, bat or skate
How to use it: five ideas
- P.E. warm-up: students solve a few clues before class, then act out the game they solved when you get to the gym.
- Rules writer: students pick one sport from the puzzle and write three rules for it, using at least two other answers.
- Equipment match: after solving, students draw lines from each piece of equipment to the sport it goes with.
- Write a clue: students write a clue for “volleyball” or “running” in their own words and swap with a neighbor.
- Rainy-day station: keep a few copies and the answer key in the indoor-recess box.
Related
Questions
Does the crossword use any team or player names?
No. It names games, equipment and roles only. There is no league, club or athlete in it, so nothing is a trademark or needs checking.
Can I add the sports my school plays?
Yes. Add a line with a word, a colon and its clue (Kickball: A game like baseball, played with a big rubber ball you kick) and the crossword rebuilds with it.
Can I change the words and clues?
Yes. Each of the 13 lines is a word, a colon and its clue. Edit any of them, and the crossword is rebuilt with new numbers.
How do I save it as a PDF?
Press Print and choose “Save as PDF” as the printer. The puzzle is page one and the answer key is page two.
How do I get a different layout?
Press “Make another”. The same words and clues are placed in a new arrangement, so each table can have its own puzzle.
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