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Word search maker
Type your words and get a finished word search with the word list printed underneath. Download it, print it, or share a version people can solve on screen.
One word per line, or separate with commas. Add a meaning after | for the interactive page. Start a line with * to spotlight that word near the top-left.
Colours
Fancy letters are Unicode characters drawn with your device’s own fonts, so they can look slightly different on another device. Want them in your caption too? Try the Fancy Text Generator.
Image size
Grid shape
Difficulty
Random letters sometimes spell real words. Scan to see what else your audience might spot first.
How to make a word search
- Enter your word listOne word per line or separated by commas. Spelling lists, vocabulary, names, anything.
- Set the difficultyEasy for across and down, Medium for diagonals, Hard for backwards words.
- Choose a look and a sizePick a template and a canvas. US Letter and A4 export at 300 dpi for crisp prints.
- Download puzzle and keySave the puzzle and its answer key, or share the interactive link for screens.
A word search generator that is fussy about quality
Most generators stop at “random letters around your words.” This one checks the result. Hidden words are spread out rather than clumped together, no word appears twice by accident, and the clean-grid filter re-rolls any random letters that spell something rude in any of the eight directions. That matters when the puzzle is going home in thirty backpacks.
The same list always produces the same grid until you press Shuffle grid, so you can come back and reprint the exact puzzle. Your work is saved in this browser automatically.
Ideas for your word list
- Classrooms: weekly spelling words, unit vocabulary, sight words, character names from a class novel. See classroom word search activities.
- Parties: the couple’s story at a bridal shower, baby names at a baby shower, inside jokes at a birthday. See party word search games.
- Work: company values for onboarding, product names for a launch, an icebreaker for the offsite.
- Just for fun: hide sixteen words and ask friends which one they see first with the first word you see maker.
If you are choosing words from scratch, how to choose words for a word search explains length, count and the overlaps to avoid, and how to spot words faster is a good handout for solvers.
Word search maker FAQ
How do I make a printable word search?
Type your words, choose US Letter or A4 under Image size in the Grid tab, and press Download PNG. Then download the answer key for yourself. Both files print at 300 dpi.
How many words fit in a word search?
As a rule, words should fill a third to half of the cells. A 12×12 grid has 144 cells and comfortably holds 12 to 16 words of 4 to 8 letters. Auto-size works this out for you.
Can I control the difficulty?
Yes. Easy uses across and down only, Medium adds diagonals, and Hard adds backwards words. Bigger grids and longer lists are also harder. For young children, use Easy with an 8 to 10 letter grid.
Is there an answer key?
Yes. The Answer key button shows every word highlighted, and Download answer key in the Share tab saves it as a separate image.
Can students solve it on a screen?
Yes. Copy the interactive link or show its QR code. Students drag across words on a phone, tablet or laptop and found words are crossed off the list.
More free tools from the same makers
Fancy Text Generator
Copy-and-paste Unicode fonts for captions and bios.
Wordle Solver
Hints and best next guesses for Wordle fans.