Lateral Thinking
Riddles that require creative, “outside the box” thinking.
The Fence Riddle
A boy fell off a 30-foot ladder but didn’t get hurt. How is this possible?
Answer: He fell off the bottom step
The Egg Timer
What has cities, but no houses; forests, but no trees; and water, but no fish?
Answer: A map
The Ancient Scroll
I’m not a bird, but I can fly. I’m not a river, but I flow. I’m not alive, but I grow. What am I?
Answer: Time
The Light Bulb Puzzle
In a house there are 3 light switches, all in the off position. Each controls one of 3 light bulbs in a room upstairs. You can flip the switches as many times as you want, but you can only go upstairs once to check the bulbs. How do you determine which switch controls which bulb?
Answer: Turn on switch 1 for several minutes, then turn it off. Turn on switch 2 and go upstairs. The bulb that's on is controlled by switch 2, the bulb that's off but warm is controlled by switch 1, and the bulb that's off and cool is controlled by switch 3.
The Whisper Riddle
What can you hold in your right hand but not in your left?
Answer: Your left elbow
The Twins Puzzle
Two fathers and two sons went fishing. Each caught exactly one fish and brought it home. There were only three fish in total. How is this possible?
Answer: They were a grandfather, father, and son. The father is both a father and a son.
The Stair Puzzle
If you have a bowl with six apples and you take away four, how many do you have?
Answer: Four (the ones you took away)
The Merchant’s Challenge
What has a head and a tail but no body?
Answer: A coin
The Traveler’s Riddle
The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Answer: Footsteps
The Mysterious Container
What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?
Answer: A towel