Word Puzzle Kit

Word Search Generator

Type your words, pick a size, and get a printable word search with an answer key — ready in seconds, right in your browser.

Letters A–Z only. Spaces and punctuation inside a word are ignored.

Difficulty sets which directions are used by default.

Word directions

How to use

  1. Enter a title and type your words, one per line (commas work too).
  2. Pick a grid size — 10×10 for a handful of short words, up to 20×20 for a long list.
  3. Choose the difficulty and which directions words may run.
  4. Click Generate. Use Regenerate for a fresh layout of the same words.
  5. Show the answer key to check it, then print or save as PNG or PDF.

Example input

Any list of words works. A quick classroom example:

lion
tiger
zebra
giraffe
panda, otter, camel

Use cases

  • Teachers turning a weekly vocabulary or spelling list into a warm-up worksheet.
  • Parents making a quiet-time activity themed around a favourite topic.
  • Party and event planners building name or theme puzzles for guests.
  • Learners reinforcing new vocabulary in a second language.

Features

  • Grid sizes from 10×10 to 20×20, plus a custom size.
  • Horizontal, vertical, diagonal and reverse placement.
  • Uppercase or lowercase output and a toggleable answer key.
  • Print-optimised layout for A4 and US Letter, plus PNG and PDF export.
  • Reproducible puzzles via a seed, and a share link that rebuilds your setup.
  • Clear warnings for words that are too long or cannot be placed.

Data & method notes

Words are placed longest-first. For each word the generator lists every legal position and direction, prefers spots that overlap letters already on the grid so the puzzle stays compact, and retries a bounded number of times before reporting any word it could not fit. Empty cells are then filled with random letters. Because placement is driven by a seed, the same words and settings always produce the same puzzle. Read more on the methodology page.

Frequently asked questions

Is this word search maker really free?

Yes. Every feature — generating, printing, and saving as an image or PDF — is free, with no account and no watermark on your puzzle.

What if one of my words is too long for the grid?

The tool checks before generating and tells you exactly which words will not fit, so you can either shorten the list or pick a larger grid size.

Why did a word end up in the “could not place” list?

With many long or overlapping words on a small grid there may be no legal position left. Increase the grid size, reduce the number of words, or enable more directions, then regenerate.

Can I recreate the exact same puzzle later?

Yes. Each puzzle has a seed shown under the grid. Keep the share link (or the seed) and the same words with the same settings will always rebuild the identical puzzle.

How do I save it as a PDF?

Click “Save as PDF”, then choose “Save as PDF” as the destination in your browser’s print dialog. The print layout hides the menus and ads and fits A4 and US Letter paper.