🔎 Word Search Maker
Paste your words, pick a grid size, and get a clean printable puzzle plus a separate answer key. Diagonal and backward words are toggles, so the same list works for 1st grade or 6th.
🖨️ Prints on one page ⚡ Instant preview 🆓 Free, no sign-up
Difficulty
Frequently asked questions
What grid size should I pick?
For K-2, a 10×10 grid with 6-8 short words and no diagonals is the sweet spot. Grades 3-5 handle 15×15 with diagonals. If a word is longer than the grid is wide, the tool warns you and bumps the size up automatically.
How do I make the puzzle easier or harder?
Difficulty lives in three toggles: diagonal words, backward words, and grid size. All off plus a small grid is genuinely easy; all on in a 20×20 will keep adults busy. The word list itself matters less than people think.
Does it print the answer key on a separate page?
Yes — the key prints on its own page with the placed words highlighted, so you can hand out page one and keep page two. You can also turn the key off entirely.
Can words share letters in the grid?
Yes, the generator lets words cross where letters match, just like published puzzles. That's not a bug — crossings make the puzzle tighter and are why a 15×15 grid can hold 20 words.