Scavenger hunt clues for your home, room by room
A good clue points to exactly one place without naming it. Here are examples from the Cluemade library, and the rules we use to write them.
What makes a good clue
It describes one place. "Where you sit" could be ten spots. "Where the milk and leftovers stay chilly" is only one.
Rhymes should actually rhyme and scan when you read them aloud. If you stumble, rewrite them. Riddles can be looser, but keep them short.
Rules we write by
A few rules keep clues fun and fair:
- Never name the spot or an obvious synonym.
- Point to one specific place that exists in a normal home.
- Keep it under about 35 words.
- Never send anyone somewhere unsafe: no ovens, stoves, ladders, chemicals or medicine.
- Make "easy" mean most adults get it in seconds, and "tricky" mean a second read.
Write your own
For a spot of your own, finish the sentence "Your next clue is waiting where..." with something you can see, hear or feel there. Then cross out the name of the spot.
When you add your own spot in Cluemade, you also get three fill-in starters.
Example clues by room
Each one leads to a single spot. The answer is shown underneath so you can see how the clue works.
Kitchen
I am a tall, humming cupboard that stays chilly all day and never sleeps. Open me when you need milk.
Leads to: FridgeWater goes in plain; I send it out dark and powerful. Without me, mornings are a grumble. Look where the beans do their work.
Leads to: Coffee makerWhere rolls and loaves are kept safe from the air, so they don't go hard on the counter bare.
Leads to: Bread binLiving room
I am where you flop after a long day, and I hide lost coins and crumbs. Lift my soft squares.
Leads to: Sofa cushionsI turn sunlight into lunch and your breath into fresh air. I never complain, but I do droop. Look where something green sits in soil.
Leads to: HouseplantHere's a snug cache, a woven nest, where fluffy things get put to rest.
Leads to: Blanket basketBedroom
I'm soft and fluffy and live at the head of your bed. Lift me up and see what I've been keeping warm.
Leads to: Under the pillowIn my world, two often becomes one, and nobody knows why. I slide open to reveal what your feet wear.
Leads to: Sock drawerI'm honest to a fault, I tell no lies, I show you your style from toes to eyes.
Leads to: Full-length mirrorBathroom
Fill me with warm water and bubbles, climb in, and stay awhile. I'm long, deep, and have taps at one end.
Leads to: BathtubI hold a small army that polishes your smile twice a day, and I keep it standing at attention beside the taps.
Leads to: Toothbrush holderFlecked with toothpaste and fogged by the heat, it greets you each morning with a face to meet.
Leads to: Bathroom mirrorLaundry
Behind a round glass door lives a drum. Feed me dirty socks and shirts, add soap, and I spin them clean.
Leads to: Washing machineEveryone feeds me and nobody thanks me. I'm emptied weekly and full again by Wednesday. Look where worn clothes go to wait.
Leads to: Laundry basketThe crumbs that you're too tired to see it eats, then groans, as full as can be.
Leads to: Vacuum cleanerEntry and office
I'm a tall, narrow space by the front door, where jackets, scarves and hats hang when they're off duty. Open me.
Leads to: Coat closetI get stepped on all day and never complain. Everyone wipes their feet on me, but only you will lift me up.
Leads to: Under the doormatThe clutter of work goes here to sleep, rattling with paperclips, secrets to keep.
Leads to: Desk drawerOutdoor and pets
I have a horn, a wheel and a dashboard full of dials. Climb in and open the little door in the dash.
Leads to: Car (glovebox or seat)Meat meets fire inside me on a good summer day. Today I'm unlit and chilly, so it's safe to peek in.
Leads to: Barbecue grill (cold, lid closed)Fur on the fabric and teeth marks on the seam, the cushion where somebody snores in a dream.
Leads to: Dog bedFestive
I'm tall and green, covered in sparkly baubles and topped with a star, and I smell like a forest indoors.
Leads to: Christmas treeAll circle and no corners, I'm a green welcome that hangs right where the knocking happens.
Leads to: WreathEverything's covered, and nothing's revealed, but the clue's underneath, in a gap that's concealed.
Leads to: Under the giftsTips from people who have hidden a few
- Walk the route and read each clue at its spot before the big moment.
- Mix rhymes and riddles so the hunt does not feel repetitive.
- If two spots are close together, make their clues very different.
- Add a hint for each clue. A gentle nudge rescues the game.
Questions
Can I use these clues for free?
Yes. Use the samples on this page in your own hunt. Cluemade just saves you the writing and lays everything out for printing.
How many clues are in the library?
Every hiding spot has six clues, in rhyme and riddle form, easy and tricky. You pick the style, and you can shuffle or edit any of them.
Can I write clues for spots not in the library?
Yes. Add your own spot and write the clue. We offer three fill-in starters.
Are the clues suitable for children?
They are warm and family-friendly, with no innuendo, and they never send anyone somewhere unsafe.
Ready in about five minutes.
Pick your spots, choose the look, and preview every card before you pay.
Make a hunt with clues like theseMore guides: Clue generator, Scavenger hunt for your boyfriend, Proposal scavenger hunt, Christmas scavenger hunt, Birthday scavenger hunt.