Word Search Maker
Paste in this week’s spelling list or topic vocabulary and get a printable word search, with an answer key, in a few clicks. It is one of the quickest ways to turn a word list into a calm, focused activity.
Opens Unscramble Words 4U, our free word-puzzle site, in a new tab. Free, with no sign-up.
What it does
You supply the words and the tool hides them in a grid of random letters. You can type your own list, or start from one of the ready-made themes such as animals, fruit and vegetables, weather, space, sports, colours, the kitchen, school, countries or Christmas, then edit it. Give the puzzle a title, choose a grid from 8 × 8 up to 20 × 20, and set the difficulty.
Difficulty controls the directions words can run. Easy places words only left to right and top to bottom, Medium also uses diagonals, and Hard allows words to read backwards too. If a word can’t be squeezed in, the tool warns you, so you can enlarge the grid or trim the list. Printing produces only the puzzle, sized for A4 or US Letter, and an optional second page shows every hidden word highlighted.
How to use it
- Open the maker in a new tab and type a title for your puzzle.
- Enter your words, each on its own line or with commas between them. For inspiration, pick a theme from the Ideas menu and adjust the list.
- Choose a grid size (8 to 20 squares across) and a difficulty: Easy, Medium or Hard.
- Press “Make the puzzle”. Not happy with the layout? Press it again for a new arrangement of the same words.
- Choose A4 or US Letter, leave the answer key box ticked if you want one, and press the print button.
- Your browser’s print window opens: send it to a printer, or set the destination to PDF to keep a digital copy.
More tips
- Spaces, digits and punctuation are stripped out, so a phrase like “solar system” is hidden as one unbroken string of letters.
- If a word keeps being left out, it is probably longer than the grid is wide. Choose a bigger size or a shorter synonym.
Ideas for the classroom and home learning
- KS1 (5–7)Make an Easy 8 × 8 puzzle from phonics words that share a sound, such as “sh” words. Children say each word aloud as they find and circle it.
- KS2 (7–11)Turn the weekly spelling list into a Medium puzzle for early work or homework, and keep the answer key for quick marking.
- KS3 (11–14)Use subject vocabulary, for example key terms from a science topic, but leave the word list off the sheet and give definitions instead, so pupils must work out each term before they find it.
- KS4 (14–16)Ask students to build their own Hard puzzle from revision keywords and swap with a partner, which makes them check spellings carefully as they type.
Questions
Does it cost anything?
No. You can create and print puzzles for free, with no limit.
How do I get a PDF?
Press the print button, then set the destination in the print window to PDF instead of a printer.
Why did one of my words disappear?
It didn’t fit with the others, or it was longer than the grid. Try a larger grid or a shorter list.
Can I make a puzzle for a party or event?
Yes. Any list of words works, from book characters to holiday vocabulary.
Opens Unscramble Words 4U, our free word-puzzle site, in a new tab. Free, with no sign-up.