What has words but never speaks?

How to think about it

1. Words usually come out of a mouth. The riddle wants words that sit somewhere without being spoken aloud.
2. Written words fit that idea. Where do written words live in large numbers?
3. Signs, letters and screens have words, but the classic answer is the object made entirely of pages of them.
4. A book holds thousands of words and never says one of them out loud.

Why “a book” is the answer

A book is made of words from cover to cover, and it stays silent until a reader gives those words a voice. That is the whole trick: the riddle treats “having words” and “speaking” as if they must go together, and the book shows that they do not. Any printed text would work, but the book is the fullest example.

Common wrong answers

• A dictionary. A dictionary is a book, so this is really the same answer in a narrower form.
• A parrot. A parrot has words and does speak them, so it fails the second half of the question.