The picture shows (smaller than actual size) what the cards will look like (4 different cards and the back of the cards).  These cards are color coded with a different color border on each set of 4 synonyms.  This is helpful for younger kids as they learn the words and their meanings.

This is a fun game for 2 or more players.  It's played just like regular Rummy.  The cards are shuffled and then 7 cards are dealt to each player.  The remainder of the cards are placed down as the "draw" pile.  Player 1 draws one card from the draw pile.  If he/she can use it to build a set, it is held.  If not, it is laid down in a "discard" pile, and the next player can either pick up that card (but only if it can be used to lay down a complete set) or pick a card from the draw pile.  At the end of each turn a card that is not needed is placed in the discard pile.

To lay down sets of cards, each player needs a minimum of 3 cards (or a total of 4 cards) with synonyms - words that have the same meaning (or by using a wild card to substitute for a card that is missing in the set).  Each player, along with laying down a set of cards, can also lay down the 4th card of another players set to be counted with their own cards.  Playing stops with the first player to lay down all cards in his/her hand plus a final discard.  The score is kept by counting how many cards are laid down in front of each player.  The winner is the player who lays down the most "sets".

Variations:  Instead of counting the number of sets laid down, a running score can be kept for the number of cards laid down, and the winner is the first player to reach a pre-determined score.

You will need Adobe Acrobat to view and print these files.  Get it free here.

Download the following files:

synonym1.pdf (51k)
synonym2.pdf (51k)
synonym3.pdf (50k)
synonym4.pdf (53k)
synonym5.pdf (51k)
synonym6.pdf (48k)
synonym-back.pdf (19k)
synrummydir.pdf (9k)

Or you can download all 8 files in Zip format:

synonyms.zip (286k)

  The cards have 13 sets of synonyms.  This includes 52 cards, plus 2 wild cards for a total of 54 cards.  Also, I have included a page to be used as the back of the cards.  Print synonym1 through synonym6, then turn over and print synonym-back on the back of each sheet.  NOTE:  Print all files as directed on card stock, cover with clear contact paper or have them laminated, and cut them apart.  The remaining file for download is the instructions for play.

I also have had requests for a list of the words I used in the card game, for those of you who tend to use different size cards than what I have designed.  So, for those of you who would like to make the cards yourself, here 'tis: