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Tricky Words Bingo: Free Printable Game for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Tricky Words Bingo is a free printable game for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children listen to a caller, spot the matching tricky word on their card and cover it with a counter. It suits two or more players, needs no screen and gives early readers a reason to look closely at common words.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Page 1 is the game for children. Page 2 is for the grown-up, with notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play a bingo game with tricky words. One person is the caller and says a word. Each player looks along their card, finds the word and covers it with a counter. The words are ones children meet again and again in early books, such as said, was, they and you. The game includes cards to cut out and use.
- said
- was
- they
- you
- are
- have
- some
- come
- do
What are tricky words?
Tricky words are common words that children cannot fully sound out using the letter sounds they have learned so far. Some have an unusual spelling, and some have a part that can be sounded out and a part that cannot. Many of them appear in almost every story a Reception child reads, so knowing them by sight makes reading smoother.
Reading them in a game helps because children see the same words many times without it feeling like a test. Bingo asks them to listen, look and match, then look again. That repeated, playful looking builds quick recognition. It sits alongside phonics, which teaches children to sound out and blend, rather than replacing it.
Skills and curriculum link
- Reading tricky words by sight
- Listening carefully
- Matching words
- Taking turns
- Waiting and watching
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Literacy | Word Reading | Reception |
What children will be able to do
- I can read common tricky words by sight.
- I can spot the word on my card.
- I can take turns and wait.
Ideas that help early readers
- Look at the whole wordAsk your child to run a finger under the word and notice its shape and length. Looking carefully at a word helps it stick in the memory.
- Find the part you can sound outMany tricky words have some letters that behave as expected. Point these out, then talk about the part that is odd.
- Say it, see it, use itChildren remember a word better when they hear it, see it and use it in a sentence. Mix all three during the game.
- Little and oftenShort, cheerful games help young children more than one long session. Stop while they still want to play.
Key words
- Tricky wordA common word that is hard to sound out, so we learn to read it by sight.
- CallerThe player who says the words aloud for everyone else to find.
- CardThe sheet of words each player looks at to find the word that was called.
- CounterA small marker you place on a word once you have found it.
- Sight readingKnowing a word straight away, without sounding it out letter by letter.
- SentenceA group of words that makes sense on its own. It starts with a capital letter.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children. Keep page 2 for the grown-up. A grown-up should cut out the cards for younger children.
- Give each player a card and some counters. Choose one person to be the caller.
- The caller says a word clearly. Players look for it on their card and cover it with a counter.
- Play the first game together and talk about each word as it is called. Ask, "Where can you see it?" Agree what counts as a win before you start.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence, and children can take a turn as caller.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Hold up the word as well as saying it, so the child can match what they hear with what they see. Let them point to the word on their card before they cover it. Start with fewer words in play if the card feels busy.
To stretch confident children
The caller gives a sentence clue instead of saying the word. Say a sentence with the tricky word missing, so only one word on the card fits. The player works out which word it is, finds it and covers it.
Make it a game
Swap places and let the child be the caller. The caller holds up each word as well as saying it, and checks that other players have covered the right one. Take turns until everyone has called.
Talk about it
- Which tricky words can you read quickly?
- Which word was the trickiest, and why?
- Can you say a sentence using one of the words?
- Which words look alike? What is different about them?
- Can you spot any of these words in a book at home?
- How did you know where to look on your card?
Take it off the page
Word hunt
Choose a favourite picture book and look for tricky words from the game. Point to each one when you find it. Count how many times you spot a word you pick.
Tray writing
Spread a thin layer of flour or salt on a tray. Say a tricky word, then trace it with a finger. Smooth the tray and try another. A grown-up should supervise.
Sentence stories
Pick a word and make up a short spoken sentence with it. Take turns adding another sentence to build a silly story together.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first game and let them lead. Say the words clearly and slowly. Celebrate every word they find, and keep games short so playing stays fun. Praise looking carefully, not only speed.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, a table activity or an early finisher task. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Play in small groups with a child or adult as caller, and use the help and stretch ideas on page 2 for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it once and play again whenever you like. It pairs well with picture books, phonics practice and everyday talk. Brothers and sisters can join in, and an older child can be the caller. It can be reused for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning to read
Before this game, children learn letter sounds and begin to blend sounds to read simple words. They also enjoy stories and rhymes and listen closely to spoken words. Those early skills help them know what to look for in a printed word.
After this, children meet more common words that do not follow the usual spelling patterns. In Year 1 they keep reading and spelling these words as part of English in the National Curriculum for England. Games like this build the quick recognition that makes fluent reading easier.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which tricky words can you read quickly?
- Which word was trickiest?
- Can you say a sentence with one of the words?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Tricky Words Bingo for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Older children who need extra practice with common words can also use it, as the game is simple and friendly.
- What will children practise?
Children practise reading common tricky words by sight. They also practise listening, matching a spoken word to a written one, and taking turns. The game is a light way to see the same words many times.
- How do I play it?
You need two or more players, counters and a caller. The caller says a word, and each player looks for it on their card and covers it. Agree the winning rule before you begin.
- What if it feels too hard?
Hold up the word as well as saying it, so children can match what they hear with what they see. Let them point to the word before covering it. Keep games short and cheerful.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a later round of revision, and black and white printing works well.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. The notes on page 2 give help and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, counters and a grown-up or friend to be the caller. It suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays, and it gets children talking, listening and looking closely at words.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.