Word Search

Wheat and the Tares Word Search for Kids (Easy, Medium and Hard)

Free printable Wheat and the Tares word search in three levels, from 6 big words across and down to 16 words in every direction. Answer keys included.

Preschool–Grade 5 · Medium

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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages: Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Difficulty: Medium
Time: 10 minutes
Scripture: Matthew 13:24–30
Bible story: The Wheat and the Tares

Use this word search after you teach The Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24–30).

The story: Jesus told about a man which "sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat." When the servants asked if they should gather up the tares, he said no, "lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them." "Let both grow together until the harvest," he said; then the reapers would bind the tares in bundles to burn them, "but gather the wheat into my barn."

Talk about it: Big idea: God keeps His wheat safe, Wait for God's harvest. Which word from the puzzle reminds you most of the story?

Three levels: easy (ages 4–6) has 6 big words that go only across and down; medium (grades K–2) has 10 words that also go diagonally; hard (grades 3–5) has 16 words that go every direction, even backwards. Each downloads with or without an answer key.

The Bible story

Jesus told about a man which "sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat." When the servants asked if they should gather up the tares, he said no, "lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them." "Let both grow together until the harvest," he said; then the reapers would bind the tares in bundles to burn them, "but gather the wheat into my barn." Read the whole story in Matthew 13:24–30 (KJV).

Memory verse: "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." (Matthew 13:30, KJV). It is printed on every level.

Words to find

Easy (ages 4–6, 6 words): Wheat, Tares, Seed, Field, Enemy and Barn.
Medium (grades K–2, 10 words): Wheat, Tares, Seed, Field, Enemy, Servants, Harvest, Reapers, Bundles and Barn.
Hard (grades 3–5, 16 words): Wheat, Tares, Seed, Field, Enemy, Servants, Harvest, Reapers, Bundles, Barn, Sowed, Slept, Blade, Fruit, Gather and Grow.

The words come from the story in Matthew 13:24–30 (KJV). Before kids start, read the words aloud together and ask where each one is in the story.

Answer keys

Each level downloads two ways: the puzzle on its own, or with a second page that shows the answer (every word circled in red). Print the key for helpers, or let kids check their own work.

More for Wheat and the Tares: The Wheat and the Tares Sunday school lesson, crossword and maze.

Frequently asked questions

What ages are these The Wheat and the Tares word searches for?

The easy one (6 big words, across and down) is for ages 4–6, the medium one (10 words, with diagonals) for kindergarten to 2nd grade, and the hard one (16 words in every direction, even backwards) for 3rd to 5th grade.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Every level downloads with or without its answer key, which circles each word in red.

Are these word searches free?

Yes. Print as many as you need for your church, school or home. Please don't resell them.

What words are in the The Wheat and the Tares word search?

The easy level has Wheat, Tares, Seed, Field, Enemy and Barn. The medium and hard levels add more words from Matthew 13:24–30 (KJV); the full lists are on this page.