Free Word Search Maker
Type your words, generate a puzzle that’s checked word by word, then play it here or print it with a matching answer key. No sign-up, and your words never leave this device.
Your puzzle appears here
Type or paste your words, pick a difficulty, then choose Generate Puzzle. The example list is ready if you just want to try it.
How to make your own word search
Enter your words
Type or paste 3–40 words, one per line or separated by commas. Phrases work too: “Ice Cream” goes into the grid as ICECREAM, and accents are simplified (Jalapeño → JALAPENO). Anything that can’t be spelled with A–Z is flagged next to its line instead of being quietly dropped.
Choose difficulty and grid size
Easy places words across and down. Medium adds two diagonals. Hard uses all eight directions, including backward. Grids run from 8×8 to 25×25; the maker suggests a size that comfortably fits your list.
Generate Puzzle
The generator places every word, fills the gaps, then rescans the finished grid in all eight directions. A puzzle is only shown when every word appears exactly once and the answer key matches.
Play, print or download
Play with a mouse, finger or keyboard. Download a PDF of the puzzle, the answer key or both — on US Letter or A4, in standard or large print. Paper and print size never change the puzzle itself.
A word search generator that checks its work
Many free word search generators place your words and stop there. That’s how you end up with a printable puzzle where “CAT” also appears by accident in the random filler, or where a word is missing from the grid entirely. This maker treats those as failures:
- Every word, exactly once. Duplicate accidental copies are removed from the filler before you ever see the grid.
- Honest failures. If your list can’t fit, you’ll see why and a specific fix — a bigger grid, more directions, or removing a long word — never a puzzle with words silently missing.
- One puzzle everywhere. The board you play, the PDF, the answer key and a share link all come from the same saved puzzle, labeled with the same puzzle ID.
- Private by design. Puzzles are built in your browser. Custom words aren’t uploaded, logged or used for ads.
Word search maker with answer key
Choose Puzzle + answer key in Print & PDF and the answer page highlights every word on the same grid, with the hidden message spelled out for hidden-message puzzles. The small ID at the foot of each page (for example P1-3FA09C1B) lets you match a key to its puzzle at a glance.
Free and printable
Everything is free: making, playing, printing and downloading. There’s no account, no email and no watermark. Read how to print a word search and answer key for printer settings, or see readable grid and font sizes before printing large print.
More ways to make a puzzle
Hidden message maker
The leftover letters spell a secret message — great for invitations, thank-you notes and reveals.
Worksheets for teachers
Make up to 10 labeled versions of one vocabulary list, each with its own answer key.
Large print puzzles
Letters at least 18 pt when printed at 100%, with the word list at 16 pt.
Printable library
48 ready-made puzzles to print as single sheets or as a pack.