Worksheets

Printable Polybius Square Worksheets

Find letters by row and column, using a Polybius chart that combines I and J.

Questions

Polybius: read the coordinates

Use the supplied 5 by 5 square. The first digit is the row; the second is the column. I and J share the I cell. Original word spaces are not included.

Seed cs-classroom-01 · Generator 1/1.0.0

Name: ____________________ Date: ________________

Polybius square: row, then column; I/J merge
	1	2	3	4	5
1	A	B	C	D	E
2	F	G	H	I/J	K
3	L	M	N	O	P
4	Q	R	S	T	U
5	V	W	X	Y	Z

Question 1

Decode the row-column pairs using the I/J square.

21 34 31 14 44 23 15 13 34 42 33 15 42 12 11 13 25AnswerFor example, 11 is A and 23 is H.

Question 2

Decode the row-column pairs using the I/J square.

32 11 44 13 23 44 23 15 44 52 34 43 23 11 35 15 43AnswerFor example, 11 is A and 23 is H.

Question 3

Decode the row-column pairs using the I/J square.

42 15 11 14 44 23 15 33 34 44 15 12 54 44 23 15 14 34 34 42AnswerFor example, 11 is A and 23 is H.

Question 4

Decode the row-column pairs using the I/J square.

31 34 34 25 12 15 23 24 33 14 44 23 15 13 31 34 13 25AnswerFor example, 11 is A and 23 is H.

Question 5

Decode the row-column pairs using the I/J square.

44 45 42 33 44 23 15 43 32 11 31 31 52 23 15 15 31AnswerFor example, 11 is A and 23 is H.

Question 6

Decode the row-column pairs using the I/J square.

13 24 42 13 31 15 44 23 15 41 45 24 15 44 12 24 42 14AnswerFor example, 11 is A and 23 is H.

CipherSteps · https://ciphersteps.online · support@ciphersteps.online

Use the 5 × 5 Polybius square to turn number pairs into letters. Read the row first and the column second. I and J share a cell, so a decoded answer may show I where an original message used J.

Use the correct reference chart

Row / column	1	2	3	4	5
1	A	B	C	D	E
2	F	G	H	I / J	K
3	L	M	N	O	P
4	Q	R	S	T	U
5	V	W	X	Y	Z

Sample coordinate clue

InputMAP

SettingsRow first; column second; I/J square

Expected result32 11 35

Try this method

What to do

Split the clue into two-digit letter tokens.
Find the row using the first digit.
Move along that row to the column named by the second digit.
Write one letter per token and check the full prepared answer.

In the sample, 32 points to row 3, column 2: M. Reading the column first would give H instead. Saying “row, then column” while doing the first question can help make the order stick.

A quick extra question

Decode 24 34 24 33. Can the tokens prove whether the original first letter was J?

Keep the chart and answer key together

Choose your seed and question count, then generate a Polybius set. Save the seed, worksheet type, count, and generator version to recreate the same questions. Print on A4 or Letter. The answer key starts on separate pages and can be left out of learner copies.

Polybius square tool See why JIG decodes as IIG Make number and grid puzzle cards