42 Tricky “What Am I?” Riddles (2024)

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See how quickly you can decipher clues with these tricky "What am I?" riddles. You'll have to be super observant to get all of them right.

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“What am I?” riddles

If you’re a fan of riddles you’re probably familiar with “what am I?” riddles. Put your smarts to the test with these tricky ones that only the most intelligent will be able to solve. If you want even more of a challenge, try to solve some of these trick questions, long riddles, the hardest riddles ever, or these riddles for teens.

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Green and red

You go at red, but stop at green. What am I?

Answer: A watermelon. You eat the red part, and you stop eating at the green part. If these “What am I?” riddles don’t have enough visual clues for you, try these rebus puzzles that only the smartest can get right.

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Tall to short

I’m tall when I’m young, and I’m short when I’m old. What am I?

Answer: A candle. Also, try out these riddles for kids.

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Head and tail

I have a head and a tail that will never meet. Having too many of me is always a treat. What am I?

Answer: A coin. These brain games are guaranteed to boost your brainpower.

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Head to toe

I help you from your head to your toe. The more I work, the smaller I grow. What am I?

Answer: A bar of soap. How long will it take you to solve these Bible riddles?

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No wings or eyes

I can fly but have no wings. I can cry but I have no eyes. Wherever I go, darkness follows me. What am I?

Answer: Clouds. If you’re solving all of these “What am I?” riddles that probably means you’re good with words. Try out these word puzzles that will leave you stumped as well.

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Remove when damaged

I’m (usually) white and used for cutting and grinding. When I’m damaged, humans usually remove me or fill me. For most animals I am a useful tool. What am I?

Answer: A tooth. Here are some word search puzzles you can print for free.

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Always shaving

I shave every day, but my beard stays the same. What am I?

Answer: A barber. These tricky logic puzzles will keep you guessing.

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Today, tomorrow, yesterday

I’m where yesterday follows today and tomorrow is in the middle. What am I?

Answer: A dictionary. Here are some riddles for adults that will really test your smarts.

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All three

I’m a god, a planet, and I measure heat. What am I?

Answer: Mercury. Here are some printable crosswords to test your smarts.

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Caught not thrown

I can never be thrown but I can be caught. Ways to lose me are always being sought. What am I?

Answer: A cold. How fast can you solve this viral riddle about Teresa’s daughter?

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Just branches

I have branches, but no fruit, trunk or leaves. What am I?

Answer: A bank. Have you heard the riddle about someone’s mother having four sons? It’s a real mind-bender.

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Three letters

A seed with three letters in my name. Take away two and I still sound the same. What am I?

Answer: A pea. This is what happens to your brain when you do a puzzle.

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Instrument not played

I’m an instrument through which sounds are made, and yet, not something that can be played. What am I?

Answer: Your voice. Now, try to solve this riddle about Mr. Smith having four daughters. How quickly can you get the answer?

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Take and leave

The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?

Answer: Footsteps. Let’s see if you can solve this “how many letters are in the alphabet” riddle.

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Many teeth

I have many teeth but I can’t bite. I’m often used early but rarely at night. What am I?

Answer: A comb. Here are some tricky crossword puzzle clues that will leave you stumped.

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No scratching

I have two hands, but I can not scratch myself. What am I?

Answer: A clock. Test your smarts with these Easter riddles—they’ll have you hunting for answers.

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Everything, everywhere

I am the beginning of everything, the end of everywhere. I’m the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space. What am I?

Answer: The letter “e.” Don’t forget to test your smarts by seeing how many of these popular riddles you can solve.

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Never a goodbye

I can wave my hands at you, but I never say goodbye. You are always cool when with me, even more so when I am high! What am I?

Answer: An electric fan. Are these “What am I?” riddles too easy? Try these challenging brain teasers.

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Share me

If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven’t got me. What am I?

Answer: Secret.

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Heard and caught

What can be heard and caught but never seen?

Answer: A remark.

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Can’t catch me

I follow you all the time and copy your every move, but you can’t touch me or catch me. What am I?

Answer: Your shadow. Need a brain break? Here are some easy riddles anyone can solve.

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In you, on you

Always in you, Sometimes on you; If I surround you, I can kill you. What am I?

Answer: Water.

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Measured in hours

My life can be measured in hours, I serve by being devoured. Thin, I am quick. Fat, I am slow. Wind is my foe. What am I?

Answer: A candle.

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Never eat me

People buy me to eat, but never eat me. What am I?

Answer: Plates and cutlery. Can you solve the most famous riddles in history?

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Make, save, change, raise

People make me, save me, change me, raise me. What am I?

Answer: Money.

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At the table

I am served at a table, In gatherings of two or four. Served small, white, and round. You’ll love some, and that’s part of the fun. What am I?

Answer: A ping-pong ball. Now, see how many of these love riddles you can solve.

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Take away

The more you take away, the more I become. What am I?

Answer: A hole.

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No water, stone, or buildings

I have lakes with no water, mountains with no stone, and cities with no buildings. What am I?

Answer: A map. See if you can solve these detective riddles.

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Growing older

I’m tall when I’m young, I’m short when I’m old. What am I?

Answer: Pencil. Now that you solved this one, give these short riddles a try.

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Just hearts

I have 13 hearts, but no other organs? What am I?

Answer: A deck of cards.

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No sight

I have eyes but I can’t see. I live in the dark until you need me. What am I?

Answer: A potato. Here are some brain teasers for kids that will help beat boredom.

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Can’t be made

I can be cracked, I can be made. I can be told, I can be played. What am I?

Answer: A joke.

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Too heavy to hold

What is as light as a feather, yet no person can hold it for long. What am I?

Answer: Your breath. Can you solve Einstein’s riddle?

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Forwards and backward

Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I?

Answer: The word “not.”

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Call me again

You heard me before, and then again. Afterward, I die, until you call me again. What am I?

Answer: An echo. If you’re in the holiday spirit, see if you can figure out these Christmas riddles.

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No more skin

Take off my skin and I won’t cry, but you will! What am I?

Answer: An onion. If your kids love riddles, see how many of these tricky ones they can solve.

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Cracked

If you drop me I’m sure to crack, but give me a smile and I’ll always smile back. What am I?

Answer: A mirror.

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No sleep or speaking

I have a bed but I never sleep. I have a mouth but I never speak. What am I?

Answer: River. If these “What am I?” riddles have too many words for you, try out these math riddles instead.

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Live all alone

I have a little house in which I live all alone. It has no doors or windows, and if I want to go out I must break through the wall. What am I?

Answer: A baby chick in an egg. Speaking of eggs—try to solve this tricky “if I had four eggs” riddle.

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Turn red

I am always hungry and will die if not fed, but whatever I touch will soon turn red. What am I?

Answer: Fire.

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Some more than others

Two in a corner, 1 in a room, 0 in a house, but 1 in a shelter. What am I?

Answer: The letter r.

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Written with three

I sound like one letter but I’m written with three. I show you things when you look through me. What am I?

Answer: Eye. Now, try to finish some of the hardest puzzles you can get on Amazon.

Morgan Cutolo is a former senior production editor at Trusted Media Brands. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2016, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. In her free time, she likes exploring the seacoast of Maine, where she lives, and snuggling up on the couch with her corgi, Eggo, to watch HGTV or The Office.