Word Search Maker
Paste your word list, choose a grid size and difficulty, give it a title, and print -- with an answer key on a second page.
Fruit Word Search -- answer key
Next step
If you want to sketch letter placement by hand before typing your word list, print a sheet of graph paper first to plan the grid.
Printable Graph Paper →
Frequently Asked Questions
How many words can I use?
Up to 40. A 15 × 15 grid comfortably fits 12-18 words; go to 20 × 20 or 25 × 25 for longer lists or longer words. If a word doesn't fit, the maker tells you rather than silently leaving it out of the puzzle.
What do the difficulty levels change?
Easy hides words left-to-right and top-to-bottom only. Medium adds diagonals. Hard adds backwards words in every direction, which is the standard for adult puzzle books.
Can I use phrases or words with spaces?
Yes. Spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes are removed, so "ice cream" is hidden as ICECREAM and listed that way in the word bank -- the usual convention in printed word searches.
Is there an answer key?
Yes, on a second page with the hidden words highlighted. Untick the box before printing if you only want the puzzle.
Is anything uploaded or saved?
No. The puzzle is generated in your browser and nothing is sent to a server. Refreshing the page starts over, so print or save as PDF before you leave.