Riddles are one of the best ways to practise listening in English with young learners. They are short, they make children think, and everybody wants to be the first to shout the answer. These ten Halloween riddles use only simple A1 language – I am…, I have…, I can… – so they work with beginners aged 6–9.
10 Halloween riddles
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I am orange. I am round. I have a big smile. Who am I?
Answer: a pumpkin 🎃 -
I am black. I can fly. I sleep in the day. Who am I?
Answer: a bat 🦇 -
I have a big hat. I have a broom. I can fly! Who am I?
Answer: a witch 🧙 -
I am white. I can fly. I say “Boo!” Who am I?
Answer: a ghost 👻 -
I have eight legs. I make a web. Who am I?
Answer: a spider 🕷️ -
I am white. I have bones. I can dance! Who am I?
Answer: a skeleton 💀 -
I have big teeth. I have a cape. I sleep in the day. Who am I?
Answer: a vampire 🧛 -
I am sweet. I am in your bag. Kids love me! What am I?
Answer: candy 🍬 -
I am long. The witch has me. I can fly! What am I?
Answer: a broom 🧹 -
I am green. I walk slowly. I say “Uuurgh!” Who am I?
Answer: a zombie 🧟
How to use them in class
- Picture first: before the riddles, make sure children know the ten words. Our free Halloween vocabulary worksheet has picture cards for all of them.
- Hold up the answer: read the riddle; children hold up the matching picture card instead of shouting. Everyone answers at once, so you can see who understood.
- One clue at a time: read the first sentence only and let children guess, then add the next clue. Great for prediction and vocabulary recycling.
- Bingo twist: during Halloween bingo, read the riddle instead of the word. Children have to work out the answer before they can cover the square.
- Write your own: older or stronger learners write a three-sentence riddle about another monster for a partner to guess.
Make it a full Halloween lesson
Riddles are a perfect warm-up. For more ideas, see 10 Halloween ESL activities for kids. If you want everything printed and ready, Boo’s Halloween English Pack has 30 printable pages – vocabulary, a knock-knock story, writing, six bingo boards, Roll-a-Monster, masks and an answer key.
Code BOO20 = 20% off until 31 October 2026 (apply it automatically).