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Password: a sticker of a key with a word tag hanging from it

Password Game Rules

Give one-word clues until your partner guesses the secret word. Fewer clues earn more points.

  • Pairs or teams
  • 10 min
  • Word cards
  • 5th to 12th grade
  • Quiet
One page with all five steps

How to Play

5 steps
  1. Password, step 1: Pair up

    Pair up

    One partner is the clue-giver and sees the secret word.

  2. Password, step 2: One-word clues

    One-word clues

    Give a single word as a clue, nothing else.

  3. Password, step 3: Guess

    Guess

    The partner guesses after each clue.

  4. Password, step 4: Score

    Score

    Guessed on the first clue is 5 points, then 4, 3 and so on.

  5. Password, step 5: Switch

    Switch

    Swap roles with a new word.

Ways to Change It Up

  • Vocabulary PasswordSecret words come from the unit's word list.
  • Team PasswordTwo teams take turns with the same word.

Play It With

Coming SoonReview Games

Classroom Scoreboard

Keep team points on the board during games.

All grades, Pre-K to 12
Keeps score across rounds

More Vocabulary Games

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Password Questions

Plan the Game into the Week

Drop a game into any lesson plan in EMStudio, with the rules attached. Free to start.

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Checked by a teacher