Word Search Maker — Free Printable Puzzles with Answer Keys
Make printable word search puzzles from your own words, with diagonal and backwards options and an answer key.
Free, with no sign-up and no watermark. The file is processed in your browser and never uploaded.
Type your own words — spelling lists, topic vocabulary, names for a party — and get a ready-to-print word search PDF with a word list and an optional answer key page. Choose the difficulty: Easy hides words left-to-right and top-to-bottom, Medium adds diagonals, and Hard adds backwards words too.
Each layout comes from a puzzle code, so you can print the exact same puzzle again later, or make up to 20 different puzzles from the same list in one PDF.
Step by step
- Add words: Type one word per line, separate them with commas, or pick a theme such as Animals or Festivals to start.
- Set the difficulty: Choose Easy, Medium or Hard, and whether filler letters are Random A–Z or drawn From the words (harder).
- Choose the grid: Leave Grid size on Auto or pick a size from 6 × 6 to 25 × 25. Set how many different puzzles you want.
- Preview: Check the grid on screen and tick Show answers to see where each word is hidden. New layout reshuffles it.
- Print: Choose A4 or Letter, keep Include answer key ticked, and click Download printable PDF.
Handy for
Classrooms
Turn this week’s spelling or science words into a worksheet.
Parties and events
Hide guests’ names or wedding-themed words for a fun activity.
Language practice
Reinforce new vocabulary in English or other Latin-alphabet languages.
Rainy-day fun
Make a set of themed puzzles for children.
Good to know
Only letters A–Z go into the grid; accents are removed and spaces in phrases are joined (“ice cream” → ICECREAM). The word list still shows your original spelling.
If a word won’t fit, you’ll see which one — make the grid bigger or allow more directions.
Print the puzzle code on the sheet so you can recreate the answer key later.
For a bigger challenge, choose Hard and From the words filler letters.
Questions
Can I make puzzles in Hindi or other scripts?
Not yet — the grid uses the letters A–Z. Words in other scripts are skipped and listed so you know which ones.
Will I get the same puzzle if I use the same code?
Yes, as long as the words and settings are the same. Change any of them and the layout changes.
Can I sell or share the puzzles I make?
Yes — the puzzles are yours. The theme lists were written for EasyConvert and are free to use.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything is drawn in your browser, so your numbers, text and word lists never leave your device.
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