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Free printable Mad Libs: three stories to print, plus a blank template
Three free printable Mad Libs for kids and adults, a blank Mad Libs template to write your own, and tips for using printable fill-in-the-blank stories at home, at parties and in the classroom.
Sometimes you want Mad Libs on paper: in a classroom, at a party table, in a restaurant while you wait for food, or on a long flight. Below are three free printable Mad Libs, plus a blank template you can use to write your own. Print this page from your browser (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P), or copy the stories into a document.
How to play a printable Mad Lib
- Cover the story. Fold the page or cover the story with a sheet of paper so only the word list shows.
- Fill in the word list. Ask the players for each word type and write the answers down.
- Copy the words into the story. Each number in the story matches a number in the word list.
- Read it out loud.
Printable Mad Lib 1: The class field trip (kids)
Word list
- Adjective
- Place
- Animal
- Plural noun
- Verb ending in -ing
- Food
- Exclamation
- Number
Story
Our class went on a very (1) field trip to the (2). The first thing we saw was a giant (3) eating a pile of (4). Our teacher started (5), so we ran to the café and ordered (6) for lunch. Then the bus driver shouted "(7)!" and we drove home (8) hours late.
Printable Mad Lib 2: The job interview (adults)
Word list
- Name of a celebrity
- Adjective
- Plural noun
- Verb
- Body part
- Adverb
- Noun
- Adjective
Story
Thank you for coming in today. My name is (1), and I'll be your interviewer. This is a very (2) company, and we've been making (3) since 1987. Can you tell me about a time you had to (4) under pressure? Interesting. And why is your (5) doing that? Well, you answered every question (6). You start Monday. Here's your (7). Please don't make it (8).
Printable Mad Lib 3: The holiday dinner (family)
Word list
- Name of a family member
- Adjective
- Food
- Animal
- Verb, past tense
- Plural noun
- Number
- Silly word
Story
Every year, (1) cooks the holiday dinner, and every year something goes (2). This year, the (3) caught fire, the (4) (5) under the table, and Grandpa fell asleep in a bowl of (6). We still gave dinner (7) out of 10. Next year we're ordering (8).
Blank Mad Libs template
Use this template to write a Mad Lib of your own. Write a short story first, then swap the important words for numbered blanks.
Word list
- Adjective
- Noun
- Verb
- Plural noun
- Place
- Name
- Adverb
- Exclamation
Your story: write five to eight sentences, putting (1), (2) and so on where the blanks go. Try to put the last blank in the very last sentence. That's where the biggest laugh is.
For more help, read our guide on how to make your own Mad Libs, or pick words from our Mad Libs word list.
Printable Mad Libs in the classroom
Printable Mad Libs make a great grammar worksheet: students have to know what a noun, verb and adjective are before they can play. Try:
- Printing the word list on the front and the story on the back.
- Letting pairs swap word lists before revealing the stories.
- Having students write their own Mad Lib about a topic you're studying, then swapping with another group.
There are more ideas in our guide to fill-in-the-blank stories for kids.
Printable vs. online Mad Libs
Paper is great when phones aren't allowed. For everything else, playing online is easier. There's nothing to print, the story stays hidden automatically, the words go in the right place and every story can be played again. There are thousands of free stories to play online, and you can project one on a classroom board or a TV.
Mad Libs is a registered trademark of Penguin Random House LLC. Fun Libs is an independent game and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mad Libs or Penguin Random House.