findNeedles.py

import re

def findNeedles(haystack, needles):
    if len(needles) > 5:
        print "Too many needles"

    else:
        countArray = [0] * len(needles)

        for index, needle in enumerate(needles):
            words = re.split(r'[ \'\"\t\n\b\f\r]', haystack)

            for word in words:
                if word == needle:
                    countArray[index] = countArray[index] + 1

        for index, needle in enumerate(needles):
            print "{}: {}".format(needle, countArray[index])