Learn English Sports Vocabulary: Interactive Picture Game
This free sports vocabulary game helps ESL students learn the names of 39 sports and the words that go with them. Players listen to a sport and match it to a picture, choose the word for an action or piece of equipment, and then pick the words that belong with that sport. There are 13 levels, and a final round that mixes every sport together.
You can share this page by using the link below.
How to Play the Sports Game
Each level has three short activities. You can start from the beginning, choose a level, or open Review to listen to the sports and action words again.
- Picture match – Read or hear the sport and tap the correct picture. Each level asks about three sports. A wrong picture is removed, and that sport is asked again later.
- Action words – Look at the picture and choose the matching word, such as shoot, tackle, racket, or net. Each level has four pictures.
- Related words – The sport is named. Tap every word that goes with it, and leave the unrelated words. A picture appears for each word you find.
- Final round – After all 13 levels, hear each sport and pick its picture from six choices. One mistake ends the round. You can try the final again.
Sports and Words in the Game
The picture rounds use all 39 sports below. The related-words activity uses one sport from each level, with four words that belong with it.
Sports in the Picture Rounds
basketball, football, volleyball, baseball, tennis, American football, rugby, golf, cricket, badminton, table tennis, hockey, karate, running, cycling, javelin, pool, ice hockey, swimming, rowing, horse riding, darts, surfing, MMA, wrestling, skateboarding, skiing, high jump, bowling, archery, boxing, snooker, chess, weightlifting, yoga, gymnastics, motor racing, diving, hurdles
Words That Go with Each Sport
Basketball — basket, shoot, net, ball
Football — shoot, pass, boots, tackle
Volleyball — jump, hit, net, ball
American football — tackle, throw, pass, catch
Tennis — hit, racket, net, miss
Baseball — hit, bat, catch, throw
Badminton — racket, court, net, jump
Cricket — field, bat, pads, helmet
Karate — kick, opponent, hit, feet
Table tennis — paddle, opponent, miss, the score
Rugby — tackle, pass, team, field
Running — race, track, sneakers, opponents
Hockey — team, the score, miss, score
Why Teachers Use This Sports Activity
This ESL vocabulary activity pairs pictures with audio, so students hear the sport or word and see what it refers to. It works well as a short listening and vocabulary lesson for beginner and elementary classes, and the Review screen is useful for going back over the sports and action words.
More Vocabulary Games
If you want more picture vocabulary, try the Clothes Game or the Food Game.
I hope you enjoy practicing sports words with this game. If you have suggestions for other sports or words, please leave a comment below.
Comments