Each puzzle uses the position, size, spacing or spelling of words to show a common phrase. MIND written over MATTER means "mind over matter". Type your answer, ask for a hint, or reveal it, and print sets for class or parties.
Last updated:
0 solved of 0
Tip: in the print dialog choose "Save as PDF" to keep a copy. Only the puzzle sheet is printed.
Advertisement
Advertisement
How to use the Rebus Puzzles
Pick a level: All, Easy, Medium or Hard.
Study the puzzle: think about where words sit (over, under, between), their size, how many there are and how they are spelled.
Type the phrase and press Check answer. Use Show hint if you are stuck, or Reveal answer to see the solution.
Press Next puzzle to keep going, or Shuffle for a random order.
To print, open Printable set, choose a level and number, then press Print set (answer key included on its own page).
Common rebus tricks and what they mean
Most rebus puzzles rely on a small set of visual tricks. Once you know them, you can describe what you see and the phrase usually appears.
What you see
Word it suggests
Example
One word above another
over, on top of, above, upon
ONCE above TIME = once upon a time
One word below another
under, below, beneath
BRIDGE above WATER = water under the bridge
A word between two others or two lines
between, in the middle
YOU JUST ME = just between you and me
A word inside another word
in, inside, within
MOMANON = man in the moon
A word split in two
split, broken, break
COF FEE = coffee break
A word spelled backwards
back, backwards, reverse
ECNALG = backward glance
Jumbled letters
scrambled, mixed up, out of
GSEG = scrambled eggs
Very big or very small letters
big, large, small, little
DEAL in huge letters = big deal
Repeated words
a number (two, three, four), double, pair
DICE DICE = paradise (pair of dice)
A missing letter
no, without, or the sound of the letter
M CE = mice without the "i" (eye): blind mice
Letters going up or down
up, down, rising, falling
TOWN written downward = downtown
Using rebus puzzles in class or at parties
Warm-ups: put one puzzle on the board at the start of a lesson. They build vocabulary and lateral thinking.
Team challenge: print a set of 12, give teams five minutes, and score one point per correct phrase.
Make your own: after solving a few, ask players to invent a rebus for a saying such as "split second" or "top secret".
Mix levels: the Mixed printable option sorts puzzles from easy to hard, so everyone gets a few quick wins first.
Frequently asked questions
What is a rebus puzzle?
A rebus is a puzzle that uses pictures, letters, numbers or the arrangement of words to stand for a word or phrase. For example, the word MAN written above the word BOARD means "man overboard", and the word DEAL in huge letters means "big deal". Rebus puzzles are also called word pictures, wordies or dingbats.
How do you solve rebus puzzles?
Describe exactly what you see. Is one word over, under or inside another? Is a word big, small, thin, split, backwards or repeated? How many copies are there? Then turn that description into a common phrase: STAND over I becomes "I understand", and three copies of CYCLE become "tricycle".
How strict is the answer checker?
Capital letters, punctuation and small words like a, an and the are ignored, and one or two typos are forgiven in longer phrases. Common variations are also accepted, for example "under the weather" for "I'm under the weather".
Are these rebus puzzles good for kids?
Yes. All puzzles are family friendly, and the Easy level uses simple over-under and split-word tricks that children from about age eight can solve. Medium and Hard puzzles use wordplay such as sounds (M CE for "three blind mice") and hidden words, which suit older kids and adults.
How do I print rebus puzzles?
Open the Printable set tab, choose a difficulty, how many puzzles you want and an optional title, then press Print set. Only the puzzle sheet is printed, with numbered boxes and a write-in line under each puzzle. Tick Add answer key page to print the answers on a separate page. Choose Save as PDF in the print dialog to keep a file.
Is my progress saved?
Puzzles you solve without revealing the answer are marked as solved and stored in your browser's local storage on this device. Nothing is sent to a server.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.