64 riddles · answers on the last page · riddleup.com/riddles/riddles-for-teens
What fruit is always sad?
A. A sourpuss apple
B. A grumpy grape
C. A cranky cranberry
D. A blueberry
I am the sweetest and most romantic fruit. What am I?
A. A strawberry
B. A peach
C. A cherry
D. A honeydew
What kind of food do mummies like to eat?
A. Sandwiches
B. Tacos
C. Burritos
D. Wraps
Why is 6 afraid of 7?
A. Because 7 is bigger
B. Because 6 is unlucky
C. Because 7 comes after 6
D. Because 7 ate 9 (7, 8, 9).
If an electric train is traveling south, which way is the smoke going?
A. South
B. North
C. Straight up
D. There is no smoke, it's an electric train.
What 8 letter word can have a letter taken out and still be a word?
A. Elephant
B. Sandwich
C. Umbrella
D. Envelope
What has you stop on green and go on red?
A. A traffic light
B. An apple
C. A stoplight
D. A watermelon
What zips through the sky with a tail of fire and dust. It could be an omen, its origin to discuss?
A. A meteor
B. A shooting star
C. A satellite
D. A comet
I am milky white and scares people. What am I?
A. A zombie
B. A vampire
C. A skeleton
D. A ghost
The eight of us go forth not back to protect our king from a foe's attack. What are we?
A. Knights
B. Rooks
C. Bishops
D. Pawns
This heavy and ancient suit was not worn with a tie, but was always worn in battle.
A. A uniform
B. Chainmail
C. A helmet
D. Armor
Sleeping during the day, I hide away. Watchful through the night, I open at dawn's light. But only for the briefest time, do I shine. And then I hide away. And sleep through the day.
A. The moon
B. A star
C. Dusk
D. The sunrise
What can be measured but not seen?
A. Weight
B. Air
C. Sound
D. Time
What food lives at the beach?
A. A crab cake
B. Seaweed salad
C. Fish and chips
D. A sandwich
A stylish winter top that covers your larynx.
A. A scarf
B. A hoodie
C. A collar
D. A turtleneck
What can go through glass without breaking it?
A. Sound
B. Air
C. Heat
D. Light
Raise your right appendage high above your head. Turn your head to the right and you will smell this.
A. Your hand
B. Your shoulder
C. Deodorant
D. Your armpit
What number has all letters in alphabetical order when spelled out?
A. Six
B. Fifty
C. One hundred
D. Forty
People walk in and out of me. They push and I follow. When they walk out on me, I close up and I stay waiting for the next person to walk into my life when I have a more open mind. What am I?
A. A door
B. A revolving door
C. A gate
D. An elevator
People need me yet they give me away every day. What am I?
A. Time
B. Advice
C. Love
D. Money
What has a tongue but no mouth?
A. A sock
B. A boot
C. A sandal
D. A shoe
Noah survived one and it was great.
A. A storm
B. A drought
C. A famine
D. A flood
If I drink, I die. If I eat, I am fine. What am I?
A. A plant
B. A candle
C. An ember
D. Fire
Runs smoother than any rhyme, loves to fall but cannot climb.
A. A river
B. A waterfall
C. A tear
D. Rain
This is a baked snack that is traditionally twisted into a unique knot-like shape.
A. A bagel
B. A croissant
C. A breadstick
D. A pretzel
They come to witness the night without being called, a sailor's guide and a poet's tears. They are lost to the sight each day without the hand of a thief.
A. The moon
B. Fireflies
C. Dreams
D. Stars
A young child goes up to a wise man and shocks him by asking him "What one thing do i have that God does not?"
A. A soul
B. A body
C. Free will
D. Parents
Both guys and women enhance their visual organs with this item.
A. Sunglasses
B. Mascara
C. Contacts
D. Eyeliner
They are many and one, they wave and they drum. Used to cover a state, they go with you everywhere.
A. Fingers
B. Flags
C. Feet
D. Hands
Fuels backyard get-togethers.
A. Propane
B. Firewood
C. Gasoline
D. Charcoal
Almost everyone needs it, asks for it, gives it. But almost nobody takes it.
A. Help
B. Money
C. A favor
D. Advice
The more you look at it, The less you see.
A. Fog
B. Smoke
C. Shadow
D. Darkness
A single seater best accompanied by circus music and great balance.
A. A bicycle
B. A tricycle
C. A pogo stick
D. A unicycle
Possibly the word most commonly said before taking a sip.
A. Salud
B. Toast
C. Bottoms up
D. Cheers
A fashion statement whose name sounds like the upper part of a mobile war machine.
A. A crop top
B. A halter top
C. A tube top
D. A tank top
Prior to smartphones, people used this to record their lives.
A. A diary
B. A film camera
C. A journal
D. A camcorder
Man's most important invention.
A. The wheel
B. Writing
C. Electricity
D. Fire
Though it is not an ox, it has horns; Though it is not a donkey, it has packed-saddle; And wherever it goes it leaves silver behind.
A. A turtle
B. A slug
C. A crab
D. A snail
This is a shape and a symbol that we literally cannot live without.
A. A circle
B. A star
C. A cross
D. A heart
Meat that has been cured by being cut into long, thin strips and dried.
A. Bacon
B. Ham
C. Sausage
D. Jerky
There's one in every deck of cards and in a famous movie.
A. A king
B. An ace
C. A queen
D. A joker
Come up and let us go. Go down and here we stay.
A. A ship
B. A sail
C. A rope
D. An anchor
What is found over your head but under your hat?
A. Your scalp
B. Your brain
C. Your ears
D. Your hair
I start in little but I end in full, you'll find me in half and complete.
A. The letter "E"
B. The letter "T"
C. The letter "F"
D. The letter "L"
What is made of wood but can't be sawed?
A. A splinter
B. A log
C. A plank
D. Sawdust
A toy that requires some string and a breezy day.
A. A yo-yo
B. A top
C. A pinwheel
D. A kite
I am an English word with 3 consecutive double letters. What am I?
A. Committee
B. Mississippi
C. Bookkeeping
D. Bookkeeper
If the day before yesterday is the 23rd, then what is the day after tomorrow.
A. The 26th
B. The 28th
C. The 25th
D. The 27th.
I go around all the places; cities, towns and villages, but never come inside. What am I?
A. A road
B. A river
C. A border
D. A street
I am nothing but holes tied to holes, yet am strong as iron.
A. A net
B. A fence
C. A rope
D. A chain
It is hate and has hate in it, but it isn't hate.
A. Anger
B. Disgust
C. Rage
D. Hatred
What can you throw but not catch?
A. A ball
B. A fit
C. A punch
D. A party
I have a thousand wheels, but move I do not. Call me what I am, call me a lot.
A. A garage
B. A junkyard
C. A racetrack
D. A parking lot
What is given but kept by the giver?
A. A promise
B. Life
C. A name
D. Birth
What do people want the least on their hands?
A. Dirt
B. Blisters
C. Gloves
D. Handcuffs
I'm a word, six letters long; I sometimes enter with a gong. All in order from A to Z, I start with the letter B.
A. Begins
B. Boxing
C. Bottle
D. Begins
A deep well full of knives
A. A kitchen drawer
B. A cave
C. A sheath
D. A mouth
Some are quick to take it. Others must be coaxed. Those who choose to take it gain and lose the most.
A. A chance
B. A bet
C. A dare
D. A risk
The more you take the more you leave behind.
A. Footprints
B. Memories
C. Time
D. Steps
In spring I look gay, Covered in a green array, The warmer it gets the more clothing I wear, As the cold grows, I throw away my clothes.
A. A bush
B. A flower
C. A garden
D. A tree
What can't you see, hear or feel, until it's too late. What shadows love, and shopkeepers hate?
A. A ghost
B. A burglar alarm
C. A shadow
D. A thief
If you have me, you want to tell me. If you tell me, you don't have me.
A. A gift
B. A story
C. Money
D. A secret
What is something you will never see again?
A. Tomorrow
B. Your childhood
C. The past
D. Yesterday
One strand dangles. Two strands twist. Three or more can fashion this.
A. A rope
B. A knot
C. A necklace
D. Braids
Answers
A blueberryThis is a play on 'blueberry' containing the word 'blue,' slang for feeling sad.
A honeydewHoneydew is a sweet green melon whose name puns on the affectionate term 'honey, do' used between sweethearts.
WrapsMummies are wrapped in bandages, making "wraps," like a wrap sandwich, a punny food choice for them.
Because 7 ate 9 (7, 8, 9).This classic pun turns "seven ate nine" into "7, 8, 9," implying 7 "ate" 9, which would scare 6, who comes right before 7.
There is no smoke, it's an electric train.This is a trick question: electric trains don't burn fuel, so they produce no smoke at all.
EnvelopeRemoving the final 'e' from the eight-letter word 'envelope' leaves 'envelop,' which is also a real word (meaning to wrap or surround).
A watermelonA watermelon's green rind is where you 'stop' (it's inedible), while its red flesh is where you 'go' (dig in and eat) -- a counterintuitive color-based pun.
A cometA comet streaks across the sky trailing fire and dust, and has historically been viewed as an omen.
A ghostGhosts are traditionally depicted as pale, milky-white apparitions that frighten people.
PawnsIn chess, there are exactly eight of these pieces, and they can only move forward, defending the king's side.
ArmorSuits of armor were heavy protective battle gear, unlike a modern suit worn with a tie.
The sunriseThe imagery of something hidden by day and briefly shining at dawn points to sunrise, though the poem's talk of being "watchful through the night" and repeating daily fits a recurring natural cycle only loosely -- the source key gives "sunrise" as the intended answer.
TimeYou can track this passing on a clock, but you can never actually see it directly.
A sandwichThis is a pun: 'sandwich' sounds like 'sand-witch,' and beaches are made of sand.
A turtleneckA turtleneck sweater's high collar covers the neck and throat area, including the larynx.
LightThis passes right through a window pane without shattering it at all.
Your armpitRaising your arm and turning your head toward it puts your nose right by your underarm.
FortySpelled out, 'forty' (f-o-r-t-y) has its letters in strict alphabetical order.
An elevatorThis describes automatic doors: people constantly walk through, they open and shut ('a more open mind') for the next visitor, and closing behind you completes the metaphor.
MoneyEveryone depends on money to live, yet they spend and hand it over constantly in everyday transactions.
A shoeA shoe has a 'tongue' -- the flap under the laces -- but obviously no mouth.
A floodThis refers to the Great Flood in the Bible, which Noah and his family survived aboard the ark. (The source prints this answer as 'food' due to an OCR ligature glitch that drops the letter 'l' from 'flood'; corrected here.)
FireWater ("drinking") extinguishes a fire, while feeding it fuel ("eating") only helps it keep burning.
RainRain streams down smoothly and effortlessly falls to earth, but it can never go the opposite direction and climb back up.
A pretzelPretzels are famously twisted into their signature knotted loop shape before baking.
StarsStars appear every night unbidden, have long guided sailors navigating the seas, inspire poetic imagery, and vanish from view each day as daylight "steals" them away.
ParentsSince God has no parents in most religious traditions, but a child does, that's the one thing the child has.
EyelinerThis cosmetic product is applied around the eyes to enhance their appearance.
HandsHands can wave hello, drum on a table, cast a vote to represent (cover) a state, and, being part of your body, they go everywhere you do.
CharcoalCharcoal is the classic fuel used in backyard grills for cookouts and barbecues.
AdvicePeople constantly ask for and hand out advice, but it's a common joke that very few people actually follow ("take") the advice they're given.
DarknessStaring directly at the bright sun actually damages your eyes and impairs your vision, so the longer you look, the less you can see.
A unicycleA unicycle has just one seat and one wheel, requires excellent balance to ride, and is a classic prop in circus acts set to circus music.
Cheers"Cheers" is the most common word people say while raising a glass before drinking.
A tank top"Tank top" combines "tank" (an armored war vehicle) with "top," its upper part.
A camcorderBefore smartphones had built-in cameras, people used handheld camcorders to film home videos of their lives.
FireHarnessing fire is often cited as one of humanity's most transformative early achievements, enabling cooking, warmth, and protection.
A snailA snail's eye-stalks look like horns and its coiled shell resembles a packed saddle, while its slime trail glints like silver.
A heartBoth a geometric-like symbol and a vital organ, this shape keeps you alive by pumping blood.
JerkyJerky is meat preserved by slicing it thin and drying it, unlike bacon or ham which are cured differently.
A jokerEvery standard deck includes a Joker card, and 'Joker' is also the title of a famous movie and Batman villain.
An anchorRaising an anchor ('come up') lets a ship sail away, while dropping it ('go down') keeps the ship in place.
Your hairHair grows on top of your head, situated between your skull and whatever hat you might be wearing.
The letter "L"The letter "L" appears at the start of "Little," the end of "fulL," inside "haLf," and within "compLete."
SawdustSawdust is the wood shavings left over after sawing, so it has already been 'sawed' into dust and can't be sawed again.
A kiteFlying a kite requires a length of string and a windy day to keep it aloft.
BookkeeperThis word contains 'oo,' 'kk,' and 'ee' back to back, three double letters in a row.
The 27th.If the day before yesterday is the 23rd, today is the 25th, so the day after tomorrow (today plus two) is the 27th.
A streetStreets run through cities, towns, and villages, connecting buildings, but they always remain outside those buildings themselves.
A chainA chain is made of connected metal links (essentially "holes" of metal), yet together they form something very strong.
HatredThe word "hatred" literally contains the word "hate" within it, yet "hatred" describes the broader condition or state rather than the single emotion alone.
A partyYou can "throw" a party (host one), but a party itself cannot be physically caught.
A parking lotA parking lot holds hundreds or thousands of parked, stationary car wheels, and the riddle puns on calling it a 'lot.'
BirthA mother 'gives birth,' but the fact that she gave birth remains permanently true of, and 'kept' by, her.
HandcuffsNobody wants to be restrained by handcuffs, which are fastened directly onto the hands.
BeginsThe letters in 'begins' (b, e, g, i, n, s) appear in alphabetical order, and a boxing match 'begins' with a gong.
A mouthYour teeth line the inside of your mouth like blades lining a deep well.
A riskTaking a big risk can lead to the greatest rewards, but also the greatest losses.
StepsEach step you take leaves behind a footprint or trace, so taking more steps leaves more behind.
A treeA tree looks lush and green ('gay') in spring, grows fuller leaves as it warms, and sheds its leaves ('clothing') as winter turns cold.
A thiefA thief strikes quietly and unnoticed until it's too late, likes to hide in shadows, and is unwelcome in any shop.
A secretThe moment you share a secret with someone, it stops being a secret -- its whole nature depends on staying untold.
YesterdayYesterday is always one day behind today, so once it has passed you can never experience that exact day again.
BraidsThe riddle describes progressively more complex hair styling: one strand just hangs, two strands twist together, and three or more strands can be woven into braids.