80 Tricky “What Am I?” Riddles (with Answers)

20 Easy "What Am I?" Riddles

Hot or cold I can be hot, and I can be cold. I can run, and I can be still. I can be hard, but I can also be soft. What am I? Hint: Think of words that usually come after “hot,” “cold,” “hard,” and “soft.” Answer: Water.

Keys with no locks I have keys, but I don’t have locks. You can enter, but you can’t leave. I have space, but I don’t have room. What am I? Hint: Besides entering, you can also escape. Answer: A keyboard.

Full of holes I’m full of holes, but I’m also full of water. What am I? Hint: Think about ways things retain water without just containing it. Answer: A sponge.

Forward and backward Forwards, I’m heavy. But backwards, I’m not. What am I? Hint: This one is more literal than you’d think. Answer: The word “ton.” Read it backwards, and it’s “not.”

One eye I have one eye, but I can’t see. Sometimes people are hurt by me. What am I? Hint: Think of other kinds of eyes than the ones we see with. Answer: A needle.

Outer space You’ll find me in Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, and Uranus. You’ll never find me in Neptune or Venus. What am I? Hint: “In” instead of “on” is a telling clue. Answer: The letter “r.”

Two letters, one word I’m pronounced as one letter, but I’m written with three. Two letters there are, two only in me. I’m double, I’m single. I’m black, blue, and gray. I’m read from both ends, the same either way. What am I? Hint: This thing can be more colors than black, blue, and gray—such as green. Answer: Eye.

Only one letter I start with “e.” I end with “e.” I have only one letter—and I’m not the letter “e.” What am I? Hint: Think about what a letter can be outside of the alphabet. Answer: An envelope.

Wet and dry I get wetter the more I dry. What am I? Hint: Think about the word “dry” in different contexts. Answer: A towel.

Cracked I can be played. I can be cracked. I can be told. I can also be made. What am I? Hint: Think about a thing you can “crack,” figuratively. Answer: A joke.

Soup holder I’m made of metal, but I’m not a robot. I hold soup, but I’m not a pot. I can be opened, but I can’t be closed. What am I? Hint: “Soup” is a key clue to this riddle. Answer: A can.

The book you don’t read I am a book that doesn’t need reading. I’m filled with faces from far and near. But you can only see my pages through a screen. What am I? Hint: Think about what has a lot of “faces.” Answer: Facebook.

Never eaten People buy me to eat, but they never eat me. That’s okay—I’m not meant to be eaten. What am I? Hint: Think of “to eat” as “for eating purposes.” Answer: A plate.

Handy You can hold me in your right hand whenever you’d like. However, you can never hold me in your left hand. What am I? Hint: The answer is in the riddle. Answer: Your left hand.

End of the rainbow I’m not under a rainbow. I’m at the end of a rainbow. I’m not a pot of gold. What am I? Hint: You see it when you look at the word “rainbow,” not an actual rainbow. Answer: The letter “w.”

Share me If you have me, you probably want to share me. If you share me, though, you haven’t got me. What am I? Hint: It’s not a thing you can touch or see, but a concept. Answer: A secret.

Take and grow The more you take away from me, the bigger I become. What am I? Hint: Think of things that are empty. Answer: A hole.

Lakes without water I have lakes, but no water. I have mountains, but no stones or snow. I have cities, but no buildings. What am I? Hint: Consider things that are related to geography. Answer: A map.

You will cry Take off my skin. I won’t cry, but you probably will. What am I? Hint: Think of things that make you cry. Answer: An onion.

In spaces There’s two of me in a corner, one of me in a room, none of me in a house, and one of me in a shelter. What am I? Hint: Consider what the words have in common. Answer: The letter “r.”

20 Challenging "What Am I?" Riddles

Homer’s riddle An ancient legend holds that the poet Homer met fishermen (or in some accounts, children fishing) on the Greek island of Ios and asked them about their day. They responded with a riddle so tricky, he supposedly stayed on the island until his death trying to solve it. Give it a try: “What we caught, we threw away; what we didn’t catch, we kept. What did we keep?” Hint: They’re not talking about fish. Answer: Lice. They caught and threw out the lice they could find, but the ones they didn’t catch stayed on them.

Blind eyes I have eyes, but I can’t see. What am I? Hint: What are the different kinds of eyes? Answer: Potato.

Fatal drop Drop me from the tallest building, and I’ll survive. Drop me in water, and I’ll be ruined. What am I? Hint: Think about the properties of air, water, and falling objects. Answer: Paper.

Branches without fruit I have branches, but no fruit. I also lack a trunk, leaf, or root. What am I? Hint: These branches aren’t on a tree. Answer: A bank.

The Riddle of the Sphinx This riddle dates back thousands of years, and is said to be posed by the mysterious Sphinx to Oedipus in Greek mythology: What has four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening? Hint: The time periods are symbolic, and refer to more than a single day. Answer: As Oedipus said, it’s man. As babies (the morning), humans crawl on all fours. As an adult (the noon), they walk on two legs. As an elderly person (the evening), they need a cane (the third leg).

Invisible in front I’m always in front of you, but you can’t see me—though some people claim they do, not everyone believes them. Hint: Think of abstract concepts, not actual objects. Answer: The future.

Three feet I have three feet, but I can’t stand unless I’m leaning against something. I have no arms to hold myself up. What am I? Hint: Consider different kinds of feet—besides the ones we use to walk. Answer: A yardstick.

Gollum’s riddle In The Hobbit, the characters Gollum and Bilbo trade several riddles as part of a high-stakes game. Here’s one: “Alive without breath, As cold as death; Never thirsty, ever drinking, All in mail never clinking.” What am I? Hint: Think about what doesn’t need air to breathe. Answer: A fish.

Red and green At a traffic light, you go at green and stop at red. With me, you go at red but stop at green. What am I? Hint: Think about red-and-green items. Answer: A watermelon.

Clean shaved I shave every day, but my beard stays the same. What am I? Hint: It might be more accurate to say, “Who am I?” Answer: A barber.

In everything and everywhere I’m the beginning of everything and the end of everywhere. I’m the beginning of eternity and the end of time and space. What am I? Hint: What do these words have in common? Answer: The letter “e.”

Always there I’m always in you, and sometimes I’m on you. If I surround you, I can kill you. What am I? Hint: Think of things that make up the human body and are found in nature. Answer: Water.

Devoured My life is measured in hours. I serve by being devoured. Thin, I am quick; Fat, I am slow. Wind is my foe. What am I? Hint: Consider objects that get smaller as they’re used. Answer: A candle.

Table time I am served at a table, to groups of two or groups of four. I’m small, white, and round. You’ll love some, and that’s part of my fun. What am I? Hint: It’s not a food item. Answer: A ping-pong ball.

13 Hearts I have 13 hearts, but I don’t have any other organs. What am I? Hint: Remember Alice in Wonderland? Answer: A deck of cards. Hearts are one of the suits.

Light as a feather I’m light as a feather, but no one can hold me for long. I can be inside you or around you. What am I? Hint: Think of things you hold (inside). Answer: Your breath.

Always hungry I’m always hungry, and I’ll die if I’m not regularly fed. Whatever I touch turns black or red. What am I? Hint: Consider what you can feed—not necessarily with food. Answer: Fire.

Can’t clap I have two hands, but I can’t clap. Older people usually know how to read my face—younger people may not understand it. What am I? Hint: Think of an object that has hands and a face. Answer: A clock.

Three Ts I start with T, I end with T, I have T in me, and I’m not the letter “T.” What am I? Hint: Say this part aloud: “I have T in me.” Answer: A teapot.

Impossible question I’m a question you can ask all day long. You’ll always get a different answer, but the answer will always be correct. What am I? Hint: Think of a question you’re commonly asked or answering throughout the day. Answer: “What time is it?”

20 Kid-Friendly "What Am I?" Riddles

No limbs I have a head. I have a tail. I have no arms or legs. What am I? Hint: What they have is more of a clue than what they don’t. Answer: A coin.

Run, don’t walk I sometimes run, but I never walk. You’re behind me, following me, wherever you go. What am I? Hint: Feet aren’t the only things that run. Answer: Your nose.

Take and leave The more you take of me, the more you leave behind. What am I? Hint: You’ve been taking these since you were a baby. Answer: Footsteps.

Crystal from heaven I’m not a blanket, but I cover the ground. I’m a crystal from heaven. I don’t make a sound. What am I? Hint: What usually covers the ground? Answer: Snow.

Greedy friends I belong to you, but your friends and family use me more often than you do. What am I? Hint: Your parents give you this “belonging” when you’re a baby. Answer: A name.

The Goblet of Fire Riddle In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the main character encounters a sphinx with a tricky “What am I?” riddle. You might need magic to solve this one: “First think of the person who lives in disguise, who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.” “Next, tell me what’s always the last thing to mend, the middle of middle and end of the end?” “And finally give me the sound often heard during the search for a hard-to-find word.” “Now string them together, and answer me this, which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?” Hint: Try to solve it part by part. Answer: A spider. Put together “spy,” the letter “d,” and the filler phrase “err.”

Toothless bear I look like a bear, but I don’t sound like a bear. I have no teeth and I can’t growl. What am I? Hint: Think of bears that aren’t in nature. Answer: A gummy bear.

Outside and inside You throw away my outside. You cook my inside. Then, you eat my outside and throw away my inside. What am I? Hint: It’s a popular food for feasts. Answer: Corn on the cob.

World traveler I can travel around the world—I’ve probably even been to your house. But I stay in a corner the whole time. What am I? Hint: Consider what things you put in corners. Answer: A stamp.

The room without walls I’m a special kind of room. I have no walls, no doors, and no windows. You’ll find me in many places, but especially the woods. Hint: Think small and punny. Answer: A mushroom.

Young and old I’m tall when I’m young, but I’m short when I’m old. You can find me in a classroom. What am I? Hint: “Young” is another way of saying “new.” Answer: A pencil.

No sleep I have a bed, but I never sleep. I have a mouth, but I never speak. There’s a Disney song about me. Hint: The Disney song is from Pocahontas. Answer: A river—like in the song “Just Around the Riverbend.”

Catch me I can never be thrown, but I can always be caught. Ways to lose or defeat me are always being sought. What am I? Hint: Think of things you “catch,” figuratively. Answer: A cold.

Headless I have a neck, but I have no head. I might be in your fridge or at the store. What’s inside me is what makes me desirable. What am I? Hint: “Neck” is a term often used to describe tall and skinny cylinders. Answer: A bottle.

Shrinking Every time I take a bath, I get smaller and smaller. Eventually, you might use me up completely. Hint: Think of things in your bathroom or shower. Answer: Soap.

A sticky treat I’m sweet and cold. I have a stick to hold. I’m a treat on a hot day, and some think I’m worth more than gold. What am I? Hint: Find this item in the freezer. Answer: A popsicle.

No head, no hands I have a neck, but I don’t have a head. I have two arms, but I don’t have hands. What am I? Hint: Think of things you have in your closet. Answer: A shirt.

Long word I’m a special word. I contain 26 letters, but I only have three syllables. What am I? Hint: The word isn’t 26 letters long, but it has 26 letters. Answer: The alphabet.

Hard to throw I’m easy to lift, but I’m hard to throw. Sometimes I fall from the sky, and other times I’m with others like me in the sky. What am I? Hint: Think of light objects. Answer: A feather.

Valuable animal My name is made of two words. The first word is valuable—it’s adored by kings. The second word is common—it might be something you’ve eaten or caught. Put the words together to get my name. What am I? Hint: This is a common pet. Answer: A goldfish—the combination of “gold” and “fish.”

20 Tricky "What Am I?" Riddles for Adults

Four wings I have four wings but cannot fly. I never laugh, and I never cry. On one spot, I’m always found, toiling away with little sound. What am I? Hint: Think of what has “wings” (besides animals). Answer: A windmill.

Long, short, and colorful I can be long, but I can also be short. I can be black, white, brown, or purple. You’ll find me all over the world. What am I? Hint: Foodies will love this one. Answer: Rice.

No mouth and no ears I have no mouth and I have no ears, but I can speak and I can hear. You can’t see me, but you can call for me and I’ll come. What am I? Hint: You’ve probably heard them in a large room. Answer: An echo.

Connecting two I connect two people, but I touch only one. I can be golden like the sun. What am I? Hint: Think of symbols of commitment. Answer: A wedding ring.

Help and harm I build up castles and I tear down mountains. I make men blind. When burned, I help others see. What am I? Hint: Consider what changes when exposed to heat. Or, think about kinds of castles. Answer: Sand.

Three in one I’m a god. I’m also a planet. Finally, I measure heat. What am I? Hint: Think of the same name for each thing. Answer: Mercury.

Wrapped up I’m neatly wrapped, but I’m no gift. You might find me in a crypt. Archeologists think I’m a great treasure. What am I? Hint: The part about archeologists is probably the most helpful clue. Answer: A mummy.

Caves and crowns I dig small caves, and store gold or silver inside. I also build small bridges and make small crowns. Everyone needs me, but many don’t want to see me. Who am I? Hint: The crowns aren’t for kings. Answer: A dentist.

Fangs that bite I have pointed fangs. I sit and wait. With piercing force, I crunch with weight. I grab my victims, but they don't fight. I join them with a single bite. What am I? Hint: Think of things that join other things together. Answer: A stapler.

Player I’ve married many women over my life. But I was never married. Who am I? Hint: The verb “married” can be used in different contexts. Answer: A priest.

Bad and good Take me out of a window, and I leave a grieving wife. But stick me in a door, and I’ll save somebody’s life. What am I? Hint: Think about the words “window” and “door.” Answer: The letter “n”—creating “widow” and “donor.”

Eat or be eaten If you eat me, the one who sent me will eat you. What am I? Hint: The “you” isn’t a human. Answer: A fish hook.

The Riddler’s Riddle Take a crack at a riddle from the iconic Batman villain, the Riddler. “Tear one off and scratch my head, what was red is black instead.” What am I? Hint: Think about how something might go from red to black. Answer: A matchstick.

Unreachable You can always see me outside, but you can never touch me. You walk toward me, but you never come closer. I remain at the same distance. What am I? Hint: There are multiple answers, but remaining at the same distance helps narrow it down. Answer: The horizon. Could also be a planet or star like the sun, although you can’t always see them outside.

No sleep I only lie down once in my life: when I die. What am I? Hint: Animals aren’t the only living things—what else can die? Answer: A tree. When it’s cut down or falls, it's sideways.

Ring without fingers I have a ring, but I don’t have fingers. I used to stay in one place. Now I follow you around. Usually, I’m wherever you go. What am I? Hint: This “ring” doesn’t go on fingers. It’s invisible. Answer: A telephone.

Use me You can use me a little, or you can use me a lot. I don’t care. Each month I’ll change no matter what. What am I? Hint: Think about the clue “month.” Answer: A calendar.

Fragile I’m very fragile. If you say my name, you break me. What am I? Hint: Consider what you can “break” figuratively. Answer: Silence.

Unwanted No one wants to have me. But once they have me, no one wants to lose me. If you’re lucky, you’ll never have to have me. Hint: Think about what you might not want to “lose.” Answer: A lawsuit.

Changing I make a loud sound when I’m changing. After the change, I’m bigger than I was, but I’ve lost weight. What am I? Hint: Think about snacks that pop. Answer: Popcorn.

How to Create a "What Am I?" Riddle

Pick an object or concept as the riddle’s answer. Think about common “What am I?” riddle answers. They’re usually objects that are common, like food or household items. They can also be intangible concepts like silence, darkness, or time. To craft any riddle, start with the answer and work backwards. For example, say you want to create a “What am I?” riddle about the ocean.

Brainstorm clues that relate to the riddle’s answer. On a piece of paper or in a word document, write or type a list of the features of your riddle’s answer. Think of other words that are associated with that word, and physical properties it might have. Also consider how people interact with it (if they can) and where it is in the world or in a room. For example, the ocean has waves, is blue, and can be seen from far away or up close.

Craft your riddle. Type or write your clues out, along with the answer so you don’t forget it. It might take you a few drafts to get a riddle you’re happy with. Once it’s done, you can post it online or simply tell it to your family and friends. See how many people you can stump! Listen to feedback on the riddle. Give out hints if it’s really tricky. If there are multiple correct answers, make your riddle more specific. For example, a riddle about the ocean might be: “You can see more of me the farther you are from me. I’m often blue, but I’m not sad. Even if I didn’t want to make waves, I can’t help it. What am I?”