Word Search Maker (Free Printable Puzzles with Answer Keys)

How to make a word search

The maker starts with a small pond list so you can see how it works. Replace it with your own words, or pick one of the ready-made themes further down the page.

1. Type a title. It is printed at the top of every sheet, so something like "Unit 4 Spelling" or "Grandma's 80th Birthday" works well.
2. Put one word or short phrase on each line of the list. The counter shows how many words you have.
3. Choose a grid size and a difficulty. The preview redraws as you change anything.
4. Press Generate whenever you want a fresh letter layout for the same words.
5. Print straight from the page, or download a PDF to print later or send to a colleague.

Phrases are fine. "Lily pad" goes into the grid as LILYPAD, while the word list under the puzzle keeps the space so it is easy to read. Apostrophes, hyphens and other punctuation are skipped in the same way.

Choosing a grid size and difficulty

Grids run from 10 by 10 up to 20 by 20. Smaller grids have bigger letters, which matters more than you might expect for young readers. Larger grids give older children and adults more room to get lost.

Easy

Words run only left to right and top to bottom. This suits kindergarten to second grade, early English learners, and anyone who is still tracking letters with a finger. A 10 or 12 grid with 10 to 15 words is a comfortable sheet.

Medium

Diagonal words join in, running down to the right and up to the right. Most children from about second grade up enjoy this level, and it is a good default for mixed groups.

Hard

Words can run in all eight directions, including backwards and diagonally upward. Older kids, teens and adults get a real challenge here, especially with a 15 by 15 grid or larger and 20 or more words.

As a rough guide, keep the list to about one word per ten squares. A 12 by 12 grid holds 15 words comfortably; a 15 by 15 grid holds 20 to 25.

How the maker builds each puzzle

It places the longest words first, because they have the fewest spots where they fit. Each word gets up to 500 tries at random positions and directions. If a word gets stuck, the maker steps back, moves an earlier word, and tries again.

If the words truly cannot fit, the grid grows by one row and one column and placement starts over. You will see a short note under the list when that happens. A word is never quietly dropped, so the word list and the answer key always match the puzzle. The only hard limit is a single word longer than 20 letters, which cannot fit in any grid, and the maker tells you which one it is.

The empty squares are filled with random letters. Random letters occasionally spell something rude, so the maker checks every row, column and diagonal against a short list of words you would not want on a classroom sheet, and swaps letters until none appear. It also makes sure that each of your words shows up only once.

Ideas for classrooms, parties and therapy sessions

• Weekly spelling. Paste this week's spelling list on Monday and send the puzzle home as low-stress practice. Searching for a word means reading it letter by letter, which is the point.
• Vocabulary review. Science and social studies terms work well. Ask students to write a definition next to each word once they find it.
• Early finishers. Keep a stack of hard puzzles by the door for students who finish a test early.
• Different puzzle per student. Set the number of puzzles to 4 or more so neighbors have different grids and cannot copy positions.
• Party table activity. A shower, birthday or retirement word search full of names and inside jokes keeps guests busy while food comes out.
• Speech and language practice. Load a list of words that share a target sound and talk about each one as it is found.

Printing tips

Choose US Letter or A4 under the options. The sheet is laid out at the real paper size, so what you see is what prints. In the print dialog, leave scaling at 100 percent or "actual size" rather than "fit to page".

Ink saver mode turns the green accents gray and keeps the answer key highlights light, which helps when you are printing a class set. The answer key prints on its own page after the puzzles. With several puzzles, the keys are grouped four to a page so you only print one or two extra sheets.

More detail on paper sizes and printer settings is in our Letter vs A4 printing guide.

Sharing, saving and embedding

Copy share link gives you a web address that rebuilds the exact same puzzles, with the same letters in the same places. Paste it into Google Classroom, an email to a co-teacher, or your lesson plan, and anyone who opens it sees your sheets ready to print.

While this browser tab stays open, the maker keeps your list, so a refresh does not wipe it. Close the tab and it is gone. Nothing is uploaded and you never need an account.

If you run a blog or class website, the Embed button gives you a code snippet that places the word search maker on your own page. See the embed page for details.