Veterans Day Word Scramble – Printable with Answer Key

All 30 words

Easy: short words 10

Army The branch that serves on land
Badge A small sign worn on a uniform
Crew The team on a ship or plane
Eleven The day in November the holiday falls on
Navy The branch that serves at sea
Oath A solemn promise made on joining
Pilot A person who flies aircraft
Rank A level such as private or major
Squad A small team of soldiers
Valor Great courage

Medium 10

Bravery Courage
Captain A rank above lieutenant
Colonel A rank that sounds like kernel
Mission An assigned task
Officer A leader in the military
Platoon A unit made up of squads
Recruit A new member in training
Reunion A coming together after time apart
Sailor A member of the Navy
Veteran A person who has served in the military

Hard: long words 10

Air Force The branch that serves in the sky
Armistice An agreement to stop fighting; the holiday's first name
Coast Guard The branch that patrols the shores and rescues at sea
Commitment A promise kept over time
Dedication Giving time and effort to a purpose
Homecoming A return after a long time away
Marine Corps A branch that serves on land and at sea
National Guard A reserve force organized state by state
Patriotism Love of one's country
Space Force A branch named for what lies beyond the sky

How it works

A Veterans Day word scramble for November 11, the day that honors American veterans of all wars. Its 30 words name the branches, the ranks and the thanks owed to those who served.

Read the full guide

Oath, veteran, armistice

The easy list is short: Army, Navy, Oath, Rank, Valor. Medium, the opening sheet, holds Veteran, Sailor, Captain and Mission. The hard list names the other branches, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Space Force, and the day's first name, Armistice.

Before the assembly

Hand it out ahead of a school assembly or a visit from a veteran. The day was called Armistice Day until 1954. New scramble jumbles the ten words again for a second class.

Pupils who finish early can write one question they would ask a veteran.

Questions and answers

Which service words are in the lists?

Thirty in three lists: Easy has Badge, Eleven, Squad and Pilot; Medium has Bravery, Officer, Recruit and Reunion; Hard has Homecoming, Patriotism, Dedication and National Guard. It names no war and no weapon.

Is there a key for the teacher?

The key prints on its own page after the pupils' sheet. To print the puzzle alone, untick Print the answer key under More options.

Why is Eleven on the list?

Veterans Day is always November 11. The fighting of World War I stopped at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918.

Can younger pupils manage Armistice and Patriotism?

Start them on the Easy word list under More options. Under More options, set Scramble to Easy and the first letter of each word stays where it belongs.