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Word Search Maker

Type your words, one per line, choose a grid size and whether words can run diagonally or backwards, and get a printable word search with the word list underneath and a separate answer key that highlights where every word is hidden.

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

Use this list in the crossword maker or the bingo card generator.

    Answer key

    Making a good word search

    • Match the grid to the reader. Young children: 10×10, across and down only, 6-8 short words. Older students: 14×14 or bigger with diagonal and backwards on.
    • Use a theme. Words from one topic double as vocabulary revision - spelling has to be exact to find them.
    • Leave room. As a rule of thumb, the letters of all your words together should fill less than half the grid. If a word is skipped, make the grid bigger.
    • Add a task. Ask students to write a definition or a sentence for each word they find.

    How it is built: words are placed longest first, each at a random position and direction, allowed to cross another word only where the letters match. Empty squares are then filled with random letters. Every layout comes from your browser's cryptographic random generator, so pressing New layout gives a genuinely different puzzle.

    Worked example: will it fit?

    10 space words, total 62 letters 12 × 12 grid = 144 squares 62 ÷ 144 ≈ 43% filled by words → fits comfortably longest word TELESCOPE = 9 letters ≤ 12 ✓

    In a 10×10 grid the same words would fill 62% - still possible, but more words may be skipped, especially with only two directions allowed.

    What this calculator does not do

    • English letters A to Z only.
    • Up to 60 words and a 25×25 grid.
    • Filler letters are random, so by chance they can occasionally spell an extra word.

    Frequently asked questions

    How big should the grid be?
    The grid must be at least as wide as your longest word. For 10-12 words of up to 8 letters, a 12×12 grid works well; for young children use fewer, shorter words and a 10×10 grid with across and down only.
    What do the difficulty options do?
    Across and down are always on. Diagonal adds two diagonal directions. Backwards adds right-to-left and bottom-to-top, and with diagonal on, the backwards diagonals too. More directions make the puzzle harder.
    Why was a word left out?
    If the grid is crowded, a word may not fit after many attempts. The maker tells you which words were skipped - make the grid bigger or press New layout.
    Can I use spaces or hyphens?
    Yes - they are removed, so "solar system" is hidden as SOLARSYSTEM and listed as you typed it. Letters must be A to Z; accented and non-Latin letters are not supported.
    Is there an answer key?
    Yes. The answer key shows the same grid with each word's letters highlighted, and prints on its own page after the puzzle.

    Related free tools

    Crossword Puzzle MakerInterlocked, numbered crossword with Across/Down clues and an answer key.
    Bingo Card GeneratorPrintable word or 1-75 number bingo cards with a shuffled call list.
    Easy GraderA printable chart of percentage and letter grade for every score on a test.
    Word CounterWords, characters, sentences, reading time and SMS parts, live as you type.

    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.