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Crossword Puzzle Maker

Type each answer and its clue on a line, like "PLANET - Earth is one", and the maker interlocks the words into a numbered crossword grid with Across and Down clue lists, ready to print, plus an answer key.

Free, no signupNo daily limitRuns in your browser - nothing you enter is uploadedUpdated

Tip: 8-20 related words connect best. Separate each answer and clue with a dash or a colon.

Across

    Down

      Answer key

      How the grid is built

      Building a crossword means fitting words together so they share letters without touching side by side. The maker does it in four steps:

      1. Put the longest answer across the middle.
      2. For each remaining answer, look at every letter it shares with a word already in the grid, and every way it could cross there.
      3. Reject any spot where it would overwrite a different letter or sit right next to another word; among the rest, pick the one with the most crossings.
      4. Repeat the whole thing about 30 times with the words in different orders, and keep the layout that fits the most words in the smallest grid.

      Squares are then numbered left to right, top to bottom, wherever an answer starts, which gives the clue numbers.

      Writing good clues

      Keep the clue the same part of speech as the answer, give the number of letters for younger students, and test-solve one copy before printing a class set.

      Worked example: one crossing

      TELESCOPE is placed across first (longest word) PLANET shares an E, L, P, T or E with it try: PLANET down, crossing TELESCOPE's P at PLANET's P check the squares around it are empty → valid, 1 crossing

      Words with common letters (E, A, R, T) cross easily; a word like GYM with rare letters may not find a place, and the maker lists it as not fitted.

      What this calculator does not do

      • English letters A to Z only; answers up to 20 letters and 40 answers per puzzle.
      • Layouts are generated automatically - you cannot drag words into place.
      • It does not check that clues are correct or fair.

      Frequently asked questions

      How do I enter answers and clues?
      One per line: the answer, then a dash (or colon) and the clue - "COMET - Icy visitor with a tail". Answers can include spaces or hyphens, which are removed in the grid.
      Why did some words not fit?
      A word can only join the puzzle where it shares a letter with a word already placed, without touching other words side by side. Words with uncommon letters may not find a spot. Add more words, press New layout, or rephrase.
      How does the maker choose a layout?
      It places the longest word first, then adds each word where it crosses the most existing letters. It repeats this with different word orders about 30 times and keeps the layout that fits the most words in the smallest area.
      How many words work best?
      Between 8 and 20 related words usually give a well-connected puzzle. Fewer than 6 often leave words unable to cross.
      Can students solve it on screen?
      The puzzle is designed for printing: the blank grid and the clues print on one page and the answer key on the next.

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      Step-by-step guide: How to make crosswords, word searches and bingo for class →

      Built and checked by Taimur Hassan Siddiqui, who has more than ten years in computer-science education. The formulas on this page are covered by an automated test suite, and the worked example on this page is one of its cases. Last updated 7 October 2026.