Word Search Generator
Set up your puzzle
Enter 3 to 20 words, one per line. You can also pick a theme above.
How the word search generator works
The generator builds the grid right in your browser, starting from the words you choose. There is nothing to install and no account to create. The words you type are not sent to any server: they stay on the page until you reload or close it.
- Give the sheet a title (optional). It appears above the grid and on the PDF; if you leave it empty the sheet is called “My Word Search”.
- Choose your words. Enter 3 to 20 of them, one per line (commas and semicolons also work as separators). Or tap one of the 15 ready themes: its ten words land in the box, and you can change them, remove a few or add your own.
- Set difficulty and grid size. The next section explains what each choice really changes.
- Press “Generate Word Search”. The grid appears below the form. Every time you press the button you get a new layout, even with the same words.
- Play, print or download. Drag your finger or mouse from one letter to another to circle a word: if it is right it stays highlighted and is crossed out in the list. If you get stuck, “Show Solution” highlights every word. When you are done you can print the sheet or download it as a PDF.
Difficulty and grid size
Difficulty changes just one thing: the directions in which the words are hidden.
- Easy: horizontal only, left to right. A good level for children who are learning to read.
- Medium: horizontal and vertical, top to bottom.
- Hard: adds the two diagonals, going down and going up.
At no level are words written backwards, so the eye always reads them the normal way. When you circle a word, though, you can drag in any direction: starting from the first or from the last letter both work.
Grid size is chosen separately: 10×10 (100 squares), 13×13 (169) or 16×16 (256). With the same words, a small grid is more crowded, while a large one leaves more room for random letters and makes the search longer. If a word is longer than the side you picked, or if the words do not all fit with the chosen directions, the generator makes the grid one square larger at a time, up to eight extra: that is why the grid you get can be a little bigger than the one you selected.
A starting point, not a rule
For children aged 6 to 7, the easy level with the 10×10 grid and five to eight short, familiar words works well. Around 8 to 10 you can move up to medium and the 13×13 grid with about ten words. For teenagers and adults, the hard level with the 16×16 grid and fifteen to twenty words is a real challenge. The best way to tune a sheet is still to try it: generate, play for a few minutes and change the level if it is too easy or takes too long.
Choosing good words
- Stick to one theme. A sheet with related words (the planets, the verbs of a lesson, the characters of a story read in class) is more coherent and more useful than a random list.
- Mix long and short words. Four to ten letters is the most comfortable length. Very short words, of two or three letters, can turn up by chance in other places in the grid: that is not a mistake, and the game counts them as found anyway.
- Type the words the way you want them to appear. Spaces, apostrophes, hyphens, numbers and symbols are removed, and accented letters lose their accent: “ice cream” becomes ICECREAM and “café” becomes CAFE. Single words are the safest choice.
- Do not worry about duplicates. If you type the same word twice, the generator counts it once.
Printing and downloading the PDF
The Print button opens your browser’s print dialog with a clean version of the sheet: the grid in black and white and the word list, without menus, forms or buttons. If you had shown the solution, it does not appear on paper: the printed sheet is always the one to solve.
The Download PDF button creates an A4 page with the title, the grid, the word list in three columns and, at the bottom, the line “Created for free at: creapuzzle.com”. The file is produced in your browser and does not contain the solution. If you want to keep a grid or reuse it, download the PDF: reloading the page clears the puzzle and the generator starts from scratch.
Ready-made word searches to print
If you would rather not pick the words yourself, start from one of the ready-made word searches. Each has its grid already built, ready to print or download as a PDF, and a short piece of background on the theme.
🐾 Animals
- Farm Animals Word Search
- Wild Animals Word Search
- Sea Animals Word Search
- Birds Word Search
- Insects Word Search
🎒 School
- School Subjects Word Search
- Classroom Objects Word Search
- Action Verbs Word Search
- Adjectives Word Search
🎄 Christmas
🍕 Food
⚽ Sport
🗺️ Geography
🎃 Halloween
🧍 Body
🎵 Music
If you like puzzles with paths, try the maze generator too. For ideas on using word searches in class or at home, read the guide on how to create a word search and the article on the benefits for kids.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register or pay?
No. The generator is free and needs no account.
Are the words I type saved?
No. The grid is built in your browser and the words are not sent to our servers. For details, read the Privacy Policy.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. On a touch screen you circle a word by dragging your finger across the letters. Printing is usually easier from a computer, but you can also download the PDF and print it later.
Can I use the word searches in class?
Yes. The puzzles you generate are free to use for personal, school and educational purposes; reselling them as a product of their own is not allowed. The details are in the Terms & Conditions.
Can I get the same grid twice?
No: every time you press the button the words are laid out differently. If you like a grid, print it or download it as a PDF right away.