Kids love riddles—and for good reason! Riddles are not only fun and full of surprises, but they also spark imagination, build problem-solving skills, and bring people together through laughter and curiosity. Whether it’s at school, during a sleepover, or around the dinner table, asking and solving “What am I?” riddles is the perfect way to keep 10-year-olds engaged and thinking outside the box.
In this blog post, we’ve rounded up 33 playful and clever what am I riddles for 10 year olds, complete with answers and simple explanations. Let the giggles and guessing begin!
All Riddle
1. Riddle:
I have hands but no arms, a face but no eyes. What am I?
- Answer: Clock
- Explanation: A clock has hands to tell time and a face, but no real body parts.
2. Riddle:
I fly without wings and cry without eyes. What am I?
- Answer: Cloud
- Explanation: Clouds float in the sky and “cry” when it rains, without real eyes or wings.
3. Riddle:
You can catch me but can’t throw me. What am I?
- Answer: Cold
- Explanation: You “catch” a cold, but you can’t actually throw it like a ball.
4. Riddle:
I go up but never come down. What am I?
- Answer: Age
- Explanation: As time passes, your age only increases and never decreases.
5. Riddle:
I get wetter the more I dry. What am I?
- Answer: Towel
- Explanation: A towel dries you off by absorbing water, so it gets wetter as it works.
6. Riddle:
I’m full of holes but still hold water. What am I?
- Answer: Sponge
- Explanation: A sponge is filled with holes but can soak up and hold water.
7. Riddle:
I have a neck but no head. What am I?
- Answer: Bottle
- Explanation: A bottle has a neck where the opening is, but no head like a person.
8. Riddle:
I have keys but no locks. What am I?
- Answer: Piano
- Explanation: A piano has musical keys but they don’t open anything.
9. Riddle:
I run but never walk. What am I?
- Answer: Water
- Explanation: Water flows or “runs” but doesn’t walk like a person.
10. Riddle:
I’m always hungry and must be fed. If you give me water, I’ll soon be dead. What am I?
- Answer: Fire
- Explanation: Fire needs fuel and air to survive, but water puts it out.
11. Riddle:
I live in a shell but I’m not a turtle. What am I?
- Answer: Egg
- Explanation: An egg has a shell and something living inside, like a chick.
12. Riddle:
The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
- Answer: Footsteps
- Explanation: As you walk, you leave more footprints or steps behind you.
13. Riddle:
I’m round and have wheels, but I’m not a car. What am I?
- Answer: Bicycle
- Explanation: A bicycle has two wheels and moves, but it’s not a car.
14. Riddle:
I shine bright during the day, but I’m not the moon. What am I?
- Answer: Sun
- Explanation: The sun is bright and visible during the day.
15. Riddle:
I live in your house but I never eat. I help you sit but I have no feet. What am I?
- Answer: Chair
- Explanation: A chair supports you while sitting, but it doesn’t have legs like a person.
16. Riddle:
I tick and tock but I’m not a bomb. What am I?
- Answer: Clock
- Explanation: A clock makes ticking sounds as it keeps time.
17. Riddle:
I come out at night and sparkle bright. What am I?
- Answer: Star
- Explanation: Stars light up the night sky and twinkle.
18. Riddle:
I can jump but have no legs. What am I?
- Answer: Popcorn
- Explanation: When popcorn heats up, it jumps as it pops.
19. Riddle:
I have stripes but no color. What am I?
- Answer: Zebra crossing (crosswalk)
- Explanation: A zebra crossing is black and white with stripe patterns.
20. Riddle:
I blow but I’m not alive. What am I?
- Answer: Wind
- Explanation: Wind “blows” air around, even though it’s not a living thing.
21. Riddle:
I bark but I don’t have a mouth. What am I?
- Answer: Tree (tree bark)
- Explanation: “Bark” refers to the outside of a tree, not a dog sound in this riddle.
22. Riddle:
I twinkle and light up the sky, but I’m not a bulb. What am I?
- Answer: Star
- Explanation: Stars shine and twinkle far away in the night sky.
23. Riddle:
I have teeth but never eat. What am I?
- Answer: Comb
- Explanation: A comb has tooth-like parts but is used for hair, not eating.
24. Riddle:
I get bigger the more you take away. What am I?
- Answer: Hole
- Explanation: Digging or removing from a hole only makes it bigger.
25. Riddle:
I start with an “e” and end with an “e,” but only contain one letter. What am I?
- Answer: Envelope
- Explanation: An envelope starts and ends with “e” and holds a letter inside.
26. Riddle:
I hop and I jump but don’t have feet. What am I?
- Answer: Ball
- Explanation: Balls bounce or “jump,” but don’t have legs or feet.
27. Riddle:
I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I?
- Answer: Joke
- Explanation: Jokes can be cracked (told humorously) and shared for fun.
28. Riddle:
I buzz around and can sting you too. I make honey. What am I?
- Answer: Bee
- Explanation: Bees buzz, sting, and produce honey.
29. Riddle:
I go in dry and come out wet. What am I?
- Answer: Tea bag
- Explanation: A tea bag is dry before going into water and becomes wet while brewing.
30. Riddle:
I can fill a room but take up no space. What am I?
- Answer: Light
- Explanation: Light brightens a room but doesn’t have weight or volume.
31. Riddle:
I have ears but can’t hear. What am I?
- Answer: Corn
- Explanation: “Ears of corn” is a phrase, but corn doesn’t hear.
32. Riddle:
I’m long and I slither, but I’m not slimy. What am I?
- Answer: Snake
- Explanation: Snakes slither and are long-bodied reptiles.
33. Riddle:
I fall but never rise. What am I?
- Answer: Rain
- Explanation: Rain falls from the sky but doesn’t rise back up.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this fun and brain-tickling list of what am I riddles for 10 year olds! These riddles are a great way to build thinking skills, boost imagination, and most importantly—have a lot of fun. Whether you’re using them in class, at home, or during a party, there’s always room for a good riddle.
Got a favorite “What am I?” riddle you love to share? Drop it in the comments and challenge someone new today!