150 Riddles for Middle Schoolers to Outsmart Classmates

Riddles for Middle Schoolers spark more than just smiles—they ignite curiosity, boost brainpower, and make learning surprisingly fun. If you’re a parent, teacher, or student looking for clever challenges that sharpen minds without feeling like homework, this collection is your perfect match. Dive in and discover riddles that entertain, educate, and engage—all in one playful package.

Tricky Riddles for Middle Schoolers with Answers (19 Riddles)

1. Riddle: I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. What am I? Answer: An echo
2. Riddle: I’m always running but never move. What am I? Answer: A clock
3. Riddle: I have keys but open no locks. What am I? Answer: A piano
4. Riddle: The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I? Answer: Footprints
5. Riddle: I’m light as a feather but hard to hold for long. What am I? Answer: Breath
6. Riddle: I’m tall when young, short when old. What am I? Answer: A candle
7. Riddle: I have cities but no houses. What am I? Answer: A map
8. Riddle: I’m full of holes yet hold water. What am I? Answer: A sponge
9. Riddle: I come once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years. What am I? Answer: The letter M
10. Riddle: I have a neck but no head. What am I? Answer: A shirt
11. Riddle: I’m always in front of you but cannot be seen. What am I? Answer: The future
12. Riddle: I fly without wings and cry without eyes. What am I? Answer: A cloud
13. Riddle: I’m taken from a mine and shut in a wooden case. What am I? Answer: Pencil lead (graphite)
14. Riddle: I have branches but no leaves. What am I? Answer: A bank
15. Riddle: I’m where the earth and sky appear to meet. What am I? Answer: The horizon
16. Riddle: I’m a word of five letters, but backwards I’m the same. What am I? Answer: A palindrome (e.g., radar)
17. Riddle: I’m present in every school but never attend class. What am I? Answer: A hallway
18. Riddle: I’m broken when spoken. What am I? Answer: Silence
19. Riddle: I’m weightless but you can see me. Put me in a bucket, and I’ll make it lighter. What am I? Answer: A hole

Funny Riddles for Middle Schoolers (19 Riddles)

1. Riddle: Why did the scarecrow become a motivational speaker? Answer: Because he was outstanding in his field
2. Riddle: What do you call a dinosaur that takes math class? Answer: A calcu-saurus
3. Riddle: Why can’t basketball players go on vacation? Answer: Because they would get called for traveling
4. Riddle: What do you call a pencil with no point? Answer: Pointless
5. Riddle: Why did the tomato turn red at the dance? Answer: Because it saw the salad dressing
6. Riddle: What do you call a lazy kangaroo? Answer: A pouch potato
7. Riddle: Why did the computer go to art school? Answer: Because it wanted to learn to draw a better byte
8. Riddle: What do you call a bear with no socks? Answer: Barefoot
9. Riddle: Why did the math book look sad? Answer: Because it had too many problems
10. Riddle: What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Answer: Nacho cheese
11. Riddle: Why did the banana go to the doctor? Answer: It wasn’t peeling well
12. Riddle: What do you call a sleeping bull? Answer: A bulldozer
13. Riddle: Why don’t eggs tell jokes? Answer: They’d crack up
14. Riddle: What do you call a fake noodle? Answer: An impasta
15. Riddle: Why did the student bring a ladder to school? Answer: To take the test to the next level
16. Riddle: What do you call a cat who loves to sing? Answer: A meow-sician
17. Riddle: Why did the cookie go to the gym? Answer: To get a little crisper
18. Riddle: What do you call a frog who loves books? Answer: A read-it
19. Riddle: Why did the clock go to detention? Answer: It was always ticking off the teacher

Math Riddles for Middle Schoolers (19 Riddles)

1. Riddle: I’m a number that’s one less than a dozen. What am I? Answer: Eleven
2. Riddle: I’m a shape with four equal sides and four right angles. What am I? Answer: A square
3. Riddle: If you add me to myself, you get four. What am I? Answer: Two
4. Riddle: I’m a fraction equal to one-half. What am I? Answer: 1/2
5. Riddle: I’m a number that’s even and comes after eight. What am I? Answer: Ten
6. Riddle: I’m a shape with three sides and three angles. What am I? Answer: A triangle
7. Riddle: I’m the result when you multiply six by three. What am I? Answer: Eighteen
8. Riddle: I’m a number that’s half of one hundred. What am I? Answer: Fifty
9. Riddle: I’m a shape with no corners and no sides. What am I? Answer: A circle
10. Riddle: I’m the answer when you divide twenty by four. What am I? Answer: Five
11. Riddle: I’m a number that’s odd and comes before ten. What am I? Answer: Nine
12. Riddle: I’m a shape with five sides. What am I? Answer: A pentagon
13. Riddle: I’m what you get when you subtract seven from twelve. What am I? Answer: Five
14. Riddle: I’m a number that’s three times four. What am I? Answer: Twelve
15. Riddle: I’m a shape with six equal sides. What am I? Answer: A hexagon
16. Riddle: I’m the result of ten minus three plus two. What am I? Answer: Nine
17. Riddle: I’m a number that’s one-fourth of sixteen. What am I? Answer: Four
18. Riddle: I’m a shape with four sides but not a square. What am I? Answer: A rectangle
19. Riddle: I’m the product of five and five. What am I? Answer: Twenty-five

Animal Riddles for Middle Schoolers with Answers (19 Riddles)

1. Riddle: I’m a bird that can’t fly but runs fast on land. Who am I? Answer: An ostrich
2. Riddle: I’m a mammal that swims and flips in the ocean. Who am I? Answer: A dolphin
3. Riddle: I’m a creature with eight legs and a web. Who am I? Answer: A spider
4. Riddle: I’m an animal with a long neck reaching treetops. Who am I? Answer: A giraffe
5. Riddle: I’m a striped cat who roars in the jungle. Who am I? Answer: A tiger
6. Riddle: I’m a bird who repeats what you say. Who am I? Answer: A parrot
7. Riddle: I’m a slow creature with a shell home. Who am I? Answer: A turtle
8. Riddle: I’m an animal who hops and carries babies in a pouch. Who am I? Answer: A kangaroo
9. Riddle: I’m a black-and-white bear who loves bamboo. Who am I? Answer: A panda
10. Riddle: I’m a fish with a light on my head. Who am I? Answer: An anglerfish
11. Riddle: I’m a mammal that flies at night. Who am I? Answer: A bat
12. Riddle: I’m a big animal with a horn on my nose. Who am I? Answer: A rhinoceros
13. Riddle: I’m a bird with a colorful tail that fans out. Who am I? Answer: A peacock
14. Riddle: I’m a creature with a shell and claws on the beach. Who am I? Answer: A crab
15. Riddle: I’m an animal with spots and the fastest legs. Who am I? Answer: A cheetah
16. Riddle: I’m a sea creature with ink and many arms. Who am I? Answer: An octopus
17. Riddle: I’m a small animal who builds dams in rivers. Who am I? Answer: A beaver
18. Riddle: I’m a bird who delivers babies in stories. Who am I? Answer: A stork
19. Riddle: I’m an animal with a long trunk and big ears. Who am I? Answer: An elephant

Easy Riddles for Middle Schoolers (18 Riddles)

1. Riddle: I’m full of holes but hold water. What am I? Answer: A sponge
2. Riddle: I have keys but no locks. What am I? Answer: A piano
3. Riddle: I’m white when dirty and black when clean. What am I? Answer: A chalkboard
4. Riddle: I’m a pet that barks and wags its tail. What am I? Answer: A dog
5. Riddle: I’m a fruit that’s red and grows on trees. What am I? Answer: An apple
6. Riddle: I’m a vehicle with two wheels you pedal. What am I? Answer: A bicycle
7. Riddle: I’m a place where books are kept quietly. What am I? Answer: A library
8. Riddle: I’m a number that comes after nine. What am I? Answer: Ten
9. Riddle: I’m a drink you get from cows. What am I? Answer: Milk
10. Riddle: I’m a shape with four equal sides. What am I? Answer: A square
11. Riddle: I’m a bird that hoots at night. What am I? Answer: An owl
12. Riddle: I’m a tool you write with that has an eraser. What am I? Answer: A pencil
13. Riddle: I’m a season when leaves fall. What am I? Answer: Autumn
14. Riddle: I’m a place where you learn with teachers. What am I? Answer: A school
15. Riddle: I’m a fruit that’s yellow and curved. What am I? Answer: A banana
16. Riddle: I’m a toy you spin on your finger. What am I? Answer: A fidget spinner
17. Riddle: I’m a color of the sky on a clear day. What am I? Answer: Blue
18. Riddle: I’m a piece of furniture you sleep on. What am I? Answer: A bed

Hard Riddles for Middle Schoolers (19 Riddles)

1. Riddle: I’m a number; if you double me and add ten, you get twenty-two. What am I? Answer: Six
2. Riddle: I have a neck, a body, but no legs or head. What am I? Answer: A guitar
3. Riddle: I’m a word; take away one letter, and I’m still the same. What am I? Answer: The (remove “T,” and it’s “he”)
4. Riddle: I’m seen in water but never get wet. What am I? Answer: A reflection
5. Riddle: I’m a number; my square is one hundred. What am I? Answer: Ten
6. Riddle: I’m a letter that’s in “cat” but not in “dog.” What am I? Answer: C
7. Riddle: I’m a thing you wear on your feet, but I’m not a shoe. What am I? Answer: A sock
8. Riddle: I’m a number; if you add me to myself and multiply by four, you get sixty-four. What am I? Answer: Eight
9. Riddle: I’m a word; when you add two letters, I become smaller. What am I? Answer: Big (add “g” and “e” to make “bigger”)
10. Riddle: I’m a thing that’s alive but doesn’t move on its own. What am I? Answer: A plant
11. Riddle: I’m a number; my cube is twenty-seven. What am I? Answer: Three
12. Riddle: I’m a place where you go up and down but stay in place. What am I? Answer: An elevator
13. Riddle: I’m a word; if you reverse me, I’m a different word. What am I? Answer: On (reverses to “no”)
14. Riddle: I’m a thing you see in the sky at night but not a star. What am I? Answer: The moon
15. Riddle: I’m a number; if you multiply me by three and subtract six, you get twelve. What am I? Answer: Six
16. Riddle: I’m a thing that holds memories but isn’t a brain. What am I? Answer: A photo
17. Riddle: I’m a word; when you take away a letter, I become bigger. What am I? Answer: Little (remove “L” to make “ittle,” sounding like “bigger”)
18. Riddle: I’m a number; my double is fourteen less than twenty. What am I? Answer: Three
19. Riddle: I’m a thing that’s cold but burns. What am I? Answer: Dry ice

Food Riddles for Middle Schoolers (18 Riddles)

1. Riddle: I’m a fruit that sounds like a pair. What am I? Answer: A pear
2. Riddle: I’m a vegetable that makes you cry when cut. What am I? Answer: An onion
3. Riddle: I’m a food that’s a circle with a hole in the middle. What am I? Answer: A donut
4. Riddle: I’m a drink that’s hot and made from beans. What am I? Answer: Coffee
5. Riddle: I’m a food you pop and eat at movies. What am I? Answer: Popcorn
6. Riddle: I’m a fruit that’s orange and juicy. What am I? Answer: An orange
7. Riddle: I’m a food that’s flat and topped with sauce and cheese. What am I? Answer: Pizza
8. Riddle: I’m a sweet treat that’s cold and comes in a cone. What am I? Answer: Ice cream
9. Riddle: I’m a vegetable that’s green and looks like a tree. What am I? Answer: Broccoli
10. Riddle: I’m a food that’s long and yellow and loved by monkeys. What am I? Answer: A banana
11. Riddle: I’m a breakfast food you pour milk on. What am I? Answer: Cereal
12. Riddle: I’m a food that’s a stick and orange. What am I? Answer: A carrot
13. Riddle: I’m a sweet that’s sticky and comes from bees. What am I? Answer: Honey
14. Riddle: I’m a food that’s round and you flip it in a pan. What am I? Answer: A pancake
15. Riddle: I’m a fruit that’s red and has seeds on the outside. What am I? Answer: A strawberry
16. Riddle: I’m a food that’s cheesy and goes with chips. What am I? Answer: Nachos
17. Riddle: I’m a drink that’s fizzy and sweet. What am I? Answer: Soda
18. Riddle: I’m a food that’s a sandwich with meat and bread. What am I? Answer: A hamburger

Halloween Riddles for Middle Schoolers with Answers (19 Riddles)

1. Riddle: I’m a monster who wraps up tight and lives in a tomb. Who am I? Answer: A mummy
2. Riddle: I’m a creature who drinks blood at night. Who am I? Answer: A vampire
3. Riddle: I’m a ghost who haunts but can’t be seen. What am I? Answer: A spirit
4. Riddle: I’m a vegetable you carve for Halloween. What am I? Answer: A pumpkin
5. Riddle: I’m a creature with bones but no flesh. Who am I? Answer: A skeleton
6. Riddle: I’m a witch who flies on a broom. Who am I? Answer: A witch
7. Riddle: I’m a candy you collect on Halloween night. What am I? Answer: Trick-or-treat candy
8. Riddle: I’m a monster made from parts and bolts. Who am I? Answer: Frankenstein’s monster
9. Riddle: I’m a house that’s spooky and empty. What am I? Answer: A haunted house
10. Riddle: I’m a creature that howls at the full moon. Who am I? Answer: A werewolf
11. Riddle: I’m a web maker who’s creepy and crawly. Who am I? Answer: A spider
12. Riddle: I’m a light you carry in a carved pumpkin. What am I? Answer: A jack-o’-lantern
13. Riddle: I’m a costume you wear to scare friends. What am I? Answer: A Halloween costume
14. Riddle: I’m a bird that’s black and caws at night. Who am I? Answer: A crow
15. Riddle: I’m a treat that’s sticky and sweet on a stick. What am I? Answer: A candy apple
16. Riddle: I’m a monster who lives under bridges. Who am I? Answer: A troll
17. Riddle: I’m a spooky sound heard in haunted houses. What am I? Answer: A moan
18. Riddle: I’m a creature with wings and fangs in caves. Who am I? Answer: A bat
19. Riddle: I’m a holiday where you trick-or-treat. What am I? Answer: Halloween

Conclusion

Riddles for Middle Schoolers are more than a fun diversion—they sharpen logic, boost vocabulary, and build confidence in problem-solving. If you’re looking to engage students in a creative way, now’s the time to add these puzzles to your toolkit. Explore the full list and fresh ideas only on Daily Riddles—where curiosity meets cleverness.