Free Word Search Maker
Make a word search from your own words or a theme, choose the size and directions, play it on screen and print a PDF with an answer key.
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How to make a word search puzzle
A word search hides words in a grid of letters, running across, down, diagonally and, if you like, backwards. This maker places your words, fills the gaps with random letters and then checks that each word can be found exactly once, so there are no accidental doubles to confuse players.
- Pick a ready-made theme, or choose My own words and type up to 40 words, one per line or separated by commas.
- Choose the grid size from 8 by 8 to 20 by 20 and the directions: across and down, with diagonals, or all eight including backwards.
- Turn on hard mode to fill the empty cells with letters taken from your own words, which creates lots of near misses.
- Play on screen by dragging across a word; found words are coloured in and the timer stops when you find them all.
- Add a title, choose US Letter or A4 and download the PDF: the puzzle on page one and the answer key on page two.
How the word search is built
Longer words are placed first. Each word tries many random spots in the allowed directions and prefers spots where it can share letters with words already placed, which keeps the grid compact. The empty squares are then filled with random letters.
Finally every word is searched for in all eight directions. If a filler letter accidentally spells a word a second time, those letters are changed until each word appears exactly once. The same check runs before printing.
Choosing a size and directions
As a rough guide, match the grid and directions to the players. More directions and tricky filler letters make the same words much harder to find.
| Players | Grid size | Directions |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 5–7 | 8×8 to 10×10 | Across and down |
| Ages 8–11 | 12×12 | With diagonals |
| Teens and adults | 15×15 to 20×20 | All 8, including backwards |
Useful tips and limitations
- For young children, use an 8 by 8 or 10 by 10 grid with across and down only and short, familiar words.
- Accents are removed so words fit any grid, while Ñ is kept for Spanish word lists.
- Use 10 to 15 words for a 12 by 12 grid; too many long words in a small grid can leave some out.
Common questions
Why was one of my words left out?
A word that is longer than the grid, or that sits inside another word on the list (like CAT inside CATERPILLAR), would always be found twice, so it is skipped and listed under the puzzle. Use a bigger grid or remove the shorter word.
Can I use it for a classroom?
Yes. Puzzles are free for personal and classroom use, and the answer key page makes checking quick.
Can I make a word search in Spanish?
Yes. On the Spanish page, words keep the letter Ñ and the filler letters include it, while accents are removed so words read cleanly in the grid.
Is there an answer key?
Yes. The PDF has the puzzle on the first page and the answer key, with every word highlighted, on the second. On screen, Show all answers does the same.
Every puzzle is made and played in your browser. Best times, scores and solved puzzles are saved only in this browser on this device; nothing is uploaded and no account is needed. Clearing site data removes them.