Word puzzles include any puzzle that includes words.. Duh... The more common word puzzles include word searches, cross word puzzles, and jumbles.

Word puzzles are a great way to keep your mind busy and up to speed. Many people use word puzzles to keep their mind young and working. These puzzles can be treated similar to the Brain Age video game.

Your daily newspaper will usually feature a puzzle of the day, usually jumbles and cross words puzzles. Sometimes the editor will post codes to break and other word puzzles to figure out. These are a great way to get your morning started.

My grandfather finds himself working out the cross word puzzle, every day. The word jumbles, too. And, checking his answers the paper that comes out the following day.

Word puzzles aren't just for older people, though. In high school, I had teachers that posted analogies and jumbles to start the class. This helped with word knowledge and getting the brain in gear to learn.

You can use the daily paper to practice your word puzzle skills, purchase a puzzle book, or go online for free word puzzles. The choice is up to you.

I, personally, prefer using puzzle books. I like to feel the paper and pen in my hands as I complete the puzzle. It seems a little more gratifying to me.

But, you may be different. You may find internet puzzles more enjoyable.

Again, it's really up to you.

Word Search Puzzles test your ability to seek out hidden words and phrases amongst columns and rows of letters. The words can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. Sometimes, you can find word search puzzles that will have the words crooked throughout the puzzle, with the letters going up, down, and diagonal, to form the word.

Cross Word Puzzles test your ability to use past knowledge to figure out the clues to fit the words, short phrases, or abbreviations into the specified boxes. Some cross words are set in a theme- 70's, 80's, celebrities. These tend to be the hardest of the different word puzzles.

Word Jumbles test your ability to unscramble the letters to decipher the word. Sometimes the words you figure out have specified letters that you will use to scramble and unscramble to form the answer to the big question.

There are other word puzzles past, present, and future that have been or will be developed, but the most popular are the word search, cross word, and word jumble.

There are several good websites that you can find word games. Below you will find just a handful of some of the better ones.

Word Searches:

• Free Word Search Puzzles
• Web Word Find Puzzles for Kids
• Printable Word Searches

Cross Word Puzzles

• USAToday Crossword Puzzles
• New York Times Crossword Puzzles
• Online Cross Word Puzzles

Word Jumbles

• Word Jumble

Other Online Word Games

• Text Twist
• Bookworm
• Flip Words