Free Printable Brain Teasers : Rhymonyms! - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

This is a word puzzle called “Rhymonyms” — you need to replace each pair of words with two new words that:
1. Are synonyms (mean the same thing) for the original words.
2. Rhyme with each other.

Example given:
“ooze, mound” → “seep, heap”
- “seep” means the same as “ooze”
- “heap” means the same as “mound”
- And “seep” rhymes with “heap”

Now let’s go one by one:

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1. column, cultivator

Think of synonyms:
- “column” could be “pillar”
- “cultivator” could be “farmer” or “tiller”

Do “pillar” and “tiller” rhyme? Yes!
→ pillar, tiller

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2. hankie, concern

Synonyms:
- “hankie” = “kerchief”
- “concern” = “worry”

Do they rhyme? “kerchief” and “worry”? No.

Try again:
- “hankie” = “rag” (sometimes used informally)
- “concern” = “care”

“rag” and “care”? Not really rhyming.

Wait — what about:
- “hankie” = “cloth”
- “concern” = “dread”? No.

Another idea:
- “hankie” = “tissue”
- “concern” = “fear”? Doesn’t rhyme.

Hmm… maybe:
- “hankie” = “napkin”
- “concern” = “panic”? Close but not exact.

Actually, think of “handkerchief” shortened to “hanky”, and synonym might be “rag”.

But let’s try:
- “hankie” = “cloth”
- “concern” = “loth”? No, that doesn’t mean concern.

Wait — perhaps:
- “hankie” = “rag”
- “concern” = “drag”? No.

Let me rethink.

What if:
- “hankie” = “kerchief”
- “concern” = “grief”? Kerchief and grief? Sort of rhyme? Maybe acceptable?

No — better idea:

Actually, common answer for this type of puzzle:

“hankie” → “rag”
“concern” → “wag”? No.

Wait — here’s a known solution:

“hankie” = “cloth”
“concern” = “both”? No.

I recall sometimes “hankie” becomes “towel”, and “concern” becomes “foul”? No.

Let’s skip and come back.

Actually — correct pairing:

“hankie” → “rag”
“concern” → “lag”? No.

Wait — perhaps:

“hankie” = “napkin”
“concern” = “panic” — close rhyme? In some accents yes.

But let’s look at standard answers for this puzzle.

After checking logic:

Better approach:

“hankie” = “cloth”
“concern” = “loath”? No.

Actually — I found it:

“hankie” → “rag”
“concern” → “drag”? Still no.

Wait — maybe:

“hankie” = “tissue”
“concern” = “issue”? Tissue and issue — do they rhyme? Kind of — both end in “-ue” sound? Not perfect.

Perhaps the intended answer is:

rag, lag? But “lag” doesn’t mean concern.

Let me try different angle.

“concern” can be “care”
“hankie” can be “share”? No.

Actually — I think the right answer is:

cloth, loth — but “loth” means unwilling, not concern.

Not working.

Let me move on and return.

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3. ghost, slobber

Synonyms:
- “ghost” = “spirit”
- “slobber” = “drool”

Do “spirit” and “drool” rhyme? No.

Try:
- “ghost” = “phantom”
- “slobber” = “slaver” — oh! “phantom” and “slaver”? Not rhyming.

Wait — “slobber” = “dribble”? Not quite.

Another idea:
- “ghost” = “spook”
- “slobber” = “cook”? No.

Wait — “slobber” = “slime”? “ghost” = “post”? No.

Actually — known solution:

“ghost” = “shade”
“slobber” = “fade”? No.

Wait — “ghost” = “wraith”
“slobber” = “bath”? No.

Perhaps:

“ghost” = “apparition” — too long.

Let’s think simple:

“ghost” = “boo” (informal)
“slobber” = “goo”? Boo and goo — rhyme! And “goo” can mean sticky stuff like slobber.

Yes! That works.

→ boo, goo

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4. neckline, filth

Synonyms:
- “neckline” = “decolletage” — too fancy.
- Or “collar”? Not exactly.

“Neckline” in fashion — maybe “plunge”? Not synonym.

Actually, “neckline” can be “yoke”? No.

Wait — “neckline” = “throat”? Not really.

Perhaps “neckline” = “bosom”? Sometimes used.

“Filth” = “grime”

“Bosom” and “grime”? Don’t rhyme.

Try:
- “neckline” = “cleavage” — informal
- “filth” = “sewage”? Cleavage and sewage? Rhyme? Kind of — both end with “-age”

Yes! That’s likely.

→ cleavage, sewage

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5. songwriter, tumbler

Synonyms:
- “songwriter” = “composer” or “lyricist”
- “tumbler” = “glass” or “acrobat”

If “tumbler” = “glass”, then “songwriter” = ? “Mass”? No.

If “tumbler” = “acrobat”, then “songwriter” = “diplomat”? No.

Wait — “tumbler” can also mean a drinking glass.

So “songwriter” = “bard”
“tumbler” = “card”? Bard and card — rhyme!

And “bard” means poet/songwriter, “card” can mean a person who is amusing — but not really synonym for tumbler.

Unless “tumbler” as in circus performer — still not “card”.

Another idea:

“songwriter” = “minstrel”
“tumbler” = “jester”? Minstrel and jester — don’t rhyme.

Wait — “songwriter” = “poet”
“tumbler” = “coat”? Poet and coat? No.

Perhaps:

“songwriter” = “writer”
“tumbler” = “fighter”? Writer and fighter — rhyme!

But “fighter” isn’t synonym for tumbler.

Unless “tumbler” as in someone who falls — like in wrestling? Stretch.

Known solution might be:

bard, hard? No.

Wait — “tumbler” = “glass”
“songwriter” = “brass”? Brass band? Not songwriter.

Actually — I think:

“songwriter” = “lyricist”
“tumbler” = “cyclist”? Lyricist and cyclist — rhyme!

And “cyclist” isn’t synonym for tumbler.

Not good.

Another thought: “tumbler” can be a type of pigeon — rolling bird.

Then “songwriter” = “singer”
“tumbler” = “ringer”? Singer and ringer — rhyme!

And “ringer” can mean someone who rings bells, or impostor — not tumbler.

Close but not quite.

Perhaps the intended answer is:

composer, poser? Composer and poser — rhyme, and “poser” can mean someone who poses — not tumbler.

I’m stuck.

Let me try:

“songwriter” = “balladeer”
“tumbler” = “steerer”? No.

Wait — perhaps:

“songwriter” = “troubadour”
“tumbler” = “flour”? Troubadour and flour — sort of rhyme? In some pronunciation.

Not ideal.

Let’s skip.

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6. lump, gossip

Synonyms:
- “lump” = “clump” or “blob”
- “gossip” = “rumor” or “chat”

“Clump” and “dump”? Dump isn’t gossip.

“Blob” and “mob”? Mob isn’t gossip.

“Lump” = “knot”
“Gossip” = “plot”? Knot and plot — rhyme!

And “plot” can mean secret plan — related to gossip? Maybe.

Or “gossip” = “scandal” — knot and scandal? No.

Another idea:

“lump” = “wad”
“gossip” = “bad”? Wad and bad — rhyme, but “bad” not synonym for gossip.

Perhaps:

“lump” = “mass”
“gossip” = “class”? Mass and class — rhyme, but not synonyms.

Wait — “gossip” = “chatter”
“lump” = “shatter”? No.

Known solution might be:

clod, nod? Clod is lump, nod is not gossip.

I think:

“lump” = “chunk”
“gossip” = “funk”? Chunk and funk — rhyme, but funk not gossip.

Not working.

Let’s try later.

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7. whiter, adapt

Synonyms:
- “whiter” = “paler”
- “adapt” = “adjust”

“Paler” and “adjust”? Don’t rhyme.

“Whiter” = “fairer”
“Adapt” = “alter”? Fairer and alter — rhyme!

Yes! “Fairer” means lighter in color, “alter” means change/adapt.

→ fairer, alter

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8. zeal, hatchet

Synonyms:
- “zeal” = “passion” or “fervor”
- “hatchet” = “axe”

“Passion” and “axe”? No.

“Fervor” and “labor”? Fervor and labor — rhyme? Sort of.

“Zeal” = “ardor”
“Hatchet” = “order”? Ardor and order — rhyme!

But “order” not synonym for hatchet.

“Hatchet” = “tool”
“Zeal” = “cool”? Tool and cool — rhyme, but cool not zeal.

Another idea:

“zeal” = “drive”
“hatchet” = “knife”? Drive and knife — no.

Wait — “hatchet” can be “chopper”
“zeal” = “topper”? No.

Perhaps:

“zeal” = “fire”
“hatchet” = “wire”? Fire and wire — rhyme, but wire not hatchet.

I think known answer is:

ardor, border? Border not hatchet.

Wait — “hatchet” = “ax”
“zeal” = “max”? Max not zeal.

Perhaps:

“zeal” = “gusto”
“hatchet” = “rusto”? No.

Let’s think differently.

“Hatchet” as in bury the hatchet — meaning truce.

But we need synonym for the word itself.

Another idea: “hatchet” = “blade”
“zeal” = “trade”? Blade and trade — rhyme, but trade not zeal.

Not working.

Perhaps:

“zeal” = “keenness”
“hatchet” = “meanness”? Keenness and meanness — rhyme, but meanness not hatchet.

I recall a possible answer:

fervor, sever? Sever means cut — like hatchet cuts. Fervor and sever — rhyme!

Yes! “Sever” means to cut off, which is what a hatchet does. So metaphorically, it works.

→ fervor, sever

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9. trench, quiver

Synonyms:
- “trench” = “ditch”
- “quiver” = “shake” or “tremble”

“Ditch” and “switch”? Switch isn’t quiver.

“Trench” = “沟” — no.

“Quiver” = “vibrate”
“Trench” = “rich”? Vibrate and rich — no.

Another idea:

“trench” = “moat”
“quiver” = “boat”? Moat and boat — rhyme!

But “boat” not synonym for quiver.

“Quiver” = “shudder”
“Trench” = “udder”? Shudder and udder — rhyme, but udder not trench.

Perhaps:

“trench” = “furrow”
“quiver” = “burrow”? Furrow and burrow — rhyme!

And “burrow” can mean to shake? No, burrow is to dig.

Not quite.

Wait — “quiver” as in arrow case? Then “trench” = “bench”? Bench and quiver? No.

I think:

“trench” = “dugout”
“quiver” = “layout”? Dugout and layout — rhyme, but layout not quiver.

Known solution might be:

ditch, switch — if “switch” means sudden movement, like quiver.

In some contexts, “switch” can mean a quick jerk — similar to quiver.

So possibly:

→ ditch, switch

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10. bliss, arrest

Synonyms:
- “bliss” = “joy” or “ecstasy”
- “arrest” = “capture” or “detain”

“Joy” and “boy”? Boy not arrest.

“Ecstasy” and “mastery”? Ecstasy and mastery — rhyme!

And “mastery” can mean control — related to arrest? Not directly.

“Bliss” = “rapture”
“Arrest” = “capture” — rapture and capture — rhyme!

Yes! Perfect.

→ rapture, capture

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11. perfumes, compact

Synonyms:
- “perfumes” = “scents” or “fragrances”
- “compact” = “small” or “makeup case”

If “compact” = “case”, then “perfumes” = “bases”? Scents and bases — not great.

“Perfumes” = “odors”
“Compact” = “modest”? Odors and modest — no.

Another idea:

“perfumes” = “essences”
“compact” = “presses”? Essences and presses — rhyme!

And “presses” can mean compresses — like compact means pressed together.

Yes!

→ essences, presses

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12. quirk, aristocrat

Synonyms:
- “quirk” = “oddity” or “eccentricity”
- “aristocrat” = “noble” or “lord”

“Oddity” and “commodity”? Commodity not aristocrat.

“Eccentricity” and “specificity”? Too long.

“Quirk” = “twist”
“Aristocrat” = “mist”? Twist and mist — no.

Another idea:

“quirk” = “habit”
“aristocrat” = “rabbit”? Habit and rabbit — rhyme, but rabbit not aristocrat.

Perhaps:

“quirk” = “fad”
“aristocrat” = “dad”? Fad and dad — no.

Wait — “aristocrat” = “elite”
“quirk” = “beat”? Elite and beat — no.

Known solution might be:

whim, dim? Dim not aristocrat.

Or:

“quirk” = “caprice”
“aristocrat” = “prince”? Caprice and prince — rhyme!

And “prince” is an aristocrat.

Yes!

→ caprice, prince

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Now let’s go back to the ones I skipped.

2. hankie, concern

After research in my mind, I recall:

“hankie” = “rag”
“concern” = “wag”? No.

Wait — “hankie” = “cloth”
“concern” = “both”? No.

Actually — I think it’s:

towel, foul? Towel for hankie, foul for concern? Foul can mean unpleasant, which might relate to concern? Weak.

Another possibility:

“hankie” = “kerchief”
“concern” = “grief” — kerchief and grief — in some pronunciations, they rhyme.

Acceptable.

But let’s see standard answer.

Upon second thought, I believe the intended answer is:

rag, lag — but “lag” doesn’t mean concern.

Perhaps:

“hankie” = “napkin”
“concern” = “panic” — napkin and panic — rhyme in some accents.

I’ll go with:

→ napkin, panic

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5. songwriter, tumbler

Let me try again.

“Songwriter” = “bard”
“Tumbler” = “hard”? Bard and hard — rhyme, but hard not tumbler.

“Tumbler” = “glass”
“Songwriter” = “brass”? Brass band — not songwriter.

Wait — “tumbler” as in gymnast — “acrobat”
“Songwriter” = “diplomat”? Acrobat and diplomat — rhyme!

And “diplomat” isn’t songwriter.

Not good.

Another idea: “tumbler” = “roller”
“Songwriter” = “controller”? Roller and controller — rhyme, but controller not songwriter.

Perhaps:

“songwriter” = “composer”
“tumbler” = “exposer”? Composer and exposer — rhyme, but exposer not tumbler.

I think the best fit is:

lyricist, cyclist — even though cyclist isn't tumbler, it's a stretch.

Or perhaps:

minstrel, jester — minstrel and jester — don't rhyme.

Wait — “songwriter” = “poet”
“tumbler” = “coat”? Poet and coat — no.

I found a possible answer online in memory:

bard, card — bard is songwriter, card can mean a clever person, and tumbler might be seen as entertaining like a card? Weak.

Let’s assume:

→ bard, card

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6. lump, gossip

“Lump” = “clod”
“Gossip” = “nod”? Clod and nod — rhyme, but nod not gossip.

“Lump” = “wad”
“Gossip” = “bad”? Wad and bad — rhyme, bad not gossip.

“Lump” = “mass”
“Gossip” = “class”? Mass and class — rhyme, class not gossip.

Perhaps:

“lump” = “chunk”
“gossip” = “funk”? Chunk and funk — rhyme, funk not gossip.

I think:

“lump” = “knot”
“gossip” = “plot” — knot and plot — rhyme, and plot can mean secret talk, like gossip.

Yes!

→ knot, plot

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Now compiling all answers:

1. pillar, tiller
2. napkin, panic (or rag, lag — but I'll go with napkin, panic)
3. boo, goo
4. cleavage, sewage
5. bard, card (weak, but best I have)
6. knot, plot
7. fairer, alter
8. fervor, sever
9. ditch, switch
10. rapture, capture
11. essences, presses
12. caprice, prince

For #2, let me double-check.

Upon final reflection, I recall that "hankie" can be "cloth", and "concern" can be "loth" — but "loth" means reluctant, not concern.

Another possibility: "hankie" = "tissue", "concern" = "issue" — tissue and issue — in some dialects, they rhyme.

I think "tissue, issue" is acceptable.

So for #2: tissue, issue

For #5, let's say composer, poser — composer is songwriter, poser can mean someone who poses, and tumbler might be seen as posing? Not great.

Perhaps songsmith, forthwith? No.

I think for school level, they might accept:

writer, fighter — writer for songwriter, fighter for tumbler (as in boxer who tumbles?).

But I'll stick with bard, card for now.

Final list:

1. pillar, tiller
2. tissue, issue
3. boo, goo
4. cleavage, sewage
5. bard, card
6. knot, plot
7. fairer, alter
8. fervor, sever
9. ditch, switch
10. rapture, capture
11. essences, presses
12. caprice, prince

Let me verify #9: trench, quiver -> ditch, switch

"Ditch" is synonym for trench, "switch" can mean a sudden movement, like quiver — acceptable.

#11: perfumes, compact -> essences, presses — essences for perfumes, presses for compact (as in compressed) — good.

#12: quirk, aristocrat -> caprice, prince — caprice is whim/quirk, prince is aristocrat — perfect.

Okay, I think this is as good as it gets.

Final Answer:

1. pillar, tiller
2. tissue, issue
3. boo, goo
4. cleavage, sewage
5. bard, card
6. knot, plot
7. fairer, alter
8. fervor, sever
9. ditch, switch
10. rapture, capture
11. essences, presses
12. caprice, prince