How to make a word search
- Give the puzzle a title, then type your words: one per line, or separated by commas.
- Choose a difficulty and, if you like, a grid size. Automatic picks a size that fits your words.
- Press Make puzzle. Play it right here, print it with an answer key, or copy a link to share it.
Not happy with the layout? Shuffle the layout hides the same words in new places.
Choosing words
- Letters only. Spaces, hyphens and numbers are removed, so “ice cream” becomes ICECREAM, and accents are dropped.
- Mind the length. A word longer than the grid cannot fit: the maker tells you which words it left out, so you can pick a bigger grid.
- How many words? About 8 to 12 suit a 10 × 10 or 12 × 12 grid. Crowded grids are harder, because there is less filler between the words. A puzzle takes up to 40 words.
- Spelling practice: a weekly spelling list makes a good puzzle, and finding each word means looking at it letter by letter.
The difficulty levels
Easy places words across and down only. Medium adds both diagonals. Hard uses every direction, backwards included. Pick Easy for young children and Hard for a puzzle adults will enjoy.
Sharing your puzzle
Copy link to share gives you a link that opens your exact puzzle, ready to play online, on any computer, tablet or phone. The words and title are stored in the link itself, not on a server: anyone with the link can see them, and nobody without it can.
Printing
Print with answer key prints the puzzle on one page and the answers on the next. To keep a PDF, choose Save as PDF in the print window. For ready-made themed puzzles, several at a time or in large print, see the printable word search.