Free Cell Organelles Matching Game - Perfect for Homeschool & Classes! - Free Printable

To solve this matching game, we need to pair each cell organelle (the picture/name on the left cards) with its correct function or description (the text on the right cards).

Here is the step-by-step matching based on standard biology knowledge:

1. Nucleus → This is the control center of the cell. It contains DNA.
* *Match:* "controls what goes in and out of the cell" — Wait, that’s actually the cell membrane. Let’s reassign carefully.

Let’s list all organelles shown and their known functions:

- Nucleus: Controls cell activities; contains genetic material (DNA).
- Cell membrane: Controls what enters and leaves the cell.
- Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): Network of paths (“roads”) throughout the cell; transports materials.
- Mitochondrion: Powerhouse of the cell; makes energy (ATP) from food.
- Golgi apparatus: Packages and ships proteins and lipids.
- Ribosome: Builds proteins using RNA code.
- Centrosome: Helps control centrioles and more (involved in cell division).
- Chloroplast: Uses the sun’s energy to make sugar (photosynthesis).
- Vacuole: Helps with storage, waste, and water balance.

Now let’s match them to the visible descriptions on the right-side cards:

Visible descriptions (from image):

- “controls what goes in and out of the cell” → Cell membrane
- “network of paths (‘roads’) throughout the cell” → Endoplasmic reticulum
- “packages & prepares items for shipping” → Golgi apparatus
- “builds proteins using RNA code” → Ribosome
- “helps with storage, waste, and water balance” → Vacuole
- “uses the sun’s energy to make sugar” → Chloroplast
- “helps control centrioles and more” → Centrosome

We’re missing a description for Nucleus and Mitochondrion in the visible text — but looking again at the image layout, there may be partial text cut off. However, since the user only provided the image and asked to solve the matching, and given the visible pairs, we can confidently match the ones clearly described.

But wait — let’s check if any description fits Nucleus or Mitochondrion.

Actually, one card says: “controls what goes in and out...” → that’s definitely cell membrane.

Another says: “network of paths...” → ER.

“Packages & prepares...” → Golgi.

“Builds proteins...” → Ribosome.

“Helps with storage...” → Vacuole.

“Uses sun’s energy...” → Chloroplast.

“Helps control centrioles...” → Centrosome.

That leaves Nucleus and Mitochondrion without explicit matches in the visible text — BUT looking closely at the image, there are two more description cards partially visible:

One says: “...ps control centrioles and more” — already matched to centrosome.

Another says: “...uses the sun’s energy to make sugar” — chloroplast.

Wait — perhaps the nucleus is matched with something like “control center” — but it’s not fully visible.

However, in standard educational matching games like this, the intended matches are:

✔ Cell membrane → controls what goes in and out
✔ Endoplasmic reticulum → network of paths
✔ Golgi apparatus → packages & prepares items
✔ Ribosome → builds proteins using RNA code
✔ Vacuole → helps with storage, waste, water balance
✔ Chloroplast → uses sun’s energy to make sugar
✔ Centrosome → helps control centrioles and more

That leaves:

- Nucleus → should match with “control center” or similar — but not fully visible. However, in many such games, the nucleus is paired with “contains DNA” or “controls cell activities”. Since it’s not visible, we might assume it’s implied.

But wait — looking again at the image, there’s a card that says: “...trols what goes in and out...” — that’s cell membrane.

And another: “...etwork of paths...” — ER.

Actually, I think we have enough to complete the matching based on standard knowledge.

Let me write the full correct pairs:

Organelle → Function

1. Nucleus → (Not fully visible, but typically: “control center of the cell” or “contains DNA”) — however, in this set, perhaps it’s matched with nothing? No — let’s count.

There are 9 organelle cards and 9 description cards? Let’s count:

Left side (organelles):
- Nucleus
- Cell membrane
- Endoplasmic reticulum
- Mitochondrion
- Golgi apparatus
- Ribosome
- Centrosome
- Chloroplast
- Vacuole
→ That’s 9.

Right side (descriptions) — visible text fragments:

From image:

Top row right:
- “controls what goes in and out of the cell”
- “network of paths (‘roads’) throughout the cell”

Middle row right:
- “packages & prepares items for shipping”
- “builds proteins using RNA code”

Bottom row right:
- “helps with storage, waste, and water balance”
- “uses the sun’s energy to make sugar”
- “helps control centrioles and more”

That’s 7 visible. But there must be 9 total. Two are likely cut off or behind.

Looking at the image again — under “Ribosome” card, there’s a description card that starts with “...trols what goes...” — no, that’s already used.

Wait — perhaps the mitochondrion is matched with “makes energy” — but it’s not visible.

Given the constraints, and since this is a common worksheet, I will provide the standard correct matches for all 9, assuming the missing descriptions are:

For Nucleus: “control center of the cell” or “contains genetic material”

For Mitochondrion: “makes energy for the cell” or “powerhouse of the cell”

But since the user expects us to match based on the image, and the image shows specific text, let’s use only what’s visible and infer logically.

Actually, upon closer inspection of the image (even though I’m not supposed to describe it), the description cards include:

- One that says “controls what goes in and out...” → cell membrane
- “network of paths...” → ER
- “packages & prepares...” → Golgi
- “builds proteins...” → ribosome
- “helps with storage...” → vacuole
- “uses sun’s energy...” → chloroplast
- “helps control centrioles...” → centrosome

That’s 7.

The remaining two organelles are nucleus and mitochondrion.

In most such games, the nucleus is matched with “control center” and mitochondrion with “energy producer”.

Since those descriptions aren’t fully visible, but the task is to solve the matching, I will provide the complete correct pairing as per standard biology curriculum.

Final Matching:

- Nucleus → Control center of the cell (assumed, even if not fully visible)
- Cell membrane → Controls what goes in and out of the cell
- Endoplasmic reticulum → Network of paths (“roads”) throughout the cell
- Mitochondrion → Makes energy for the cell (assumed)
- Golgi apparatus → Packages and prepares items for shipping
- Ribosome → Builds proteins using RNA code
- Centrosome → Helps control centrioles and more
- Chloroplast → Uses the sun’s energy to make sugar
- Vacuole → Helps with storage, waste, and water balance

Since the problem is to “solve” the matching game, and assuming the student has to draw lines or pair them, here is the correct answer in paired format.

──────────────────────────────────────

Final Answer:
Nucleus — Control center of the cell (implied)
Cell membrane — Controls what goes in and out of the cell
Endoplasmic reticulum — Network of paths (“roads”) throughout the cell
Mitochondrion — Makes energy for the cell (implied)
Golgi apparatus — Packages and prepares items for shipping
Ribosome — Builds proteins using RNA code
Centrosome — Helps control centrioles and more
Chloroplast — Uses the sun’s energy to make sugar
Vacuole — Helps with storage, waste, and water balance

Note: If the actual worksheet has specific wording for nucleus and mitochondrion that isn't visible, those should be used. But based on standard content, this is correct.