Free Word Search Generator — Printable PDF, No Login
Add your words, choose the challenge, and create a PDF with its answer key. Your title and word list stay in this browser.
Your print preview
Sample puzzle. Change the words to make it your own.
Turn a spelling list into a classroom activity
- Paste 4–16 English words, separated by commas or new lines. A short list can become a warm-up; a longer one can review a topic.
- Choose the grid and directions, then check the live puzzle and answer previews. Easy uses forward rows and columns; medium adds forward diagonals; hard adds backwards paths.
- Download Letter or A4 for your printer. Page 1 is the activity and page 2 is its matching answer key. Print page 1 for the group and keep one answer sheet for hints.
For a 12-word space vocabulary example, try: planet, rocket, Saturn, Venus, comet, orbit, galaxy, meteor, lunar, cosmos, solar, asteroid. A 14 × 14 grid gives this list more room. You can replace any word with vocabulary your group already knows.
You may print multiple copies for your own classroom, tutoring group or family. Custom puzzles follow the same home and classroom usage rules as the prepared resources. For commercial publishing or a list with accented letters, choose a tool whose permissions and character support cover that task.
Check that this maker fits your list
- Words: 4–16 distinct entries, with at least 3 English letters each. Spaces and hyphens are removed; accents and other alphabets are unsupported. Avoid a word that is contained inside another entry.
- Grid: 10 × 10, 12 × 12, 14 × 14, 16 × 16 or 20 × 20. A word must fit the chosen size; dense lists may need fewer or shorter words to keep the printed letters readable.
- Output: a two-page PDF in US Letter or A4, with the complete puzzle and matching answers. The print button can print the activity alone.
- Privacy: no login or word-list upload. Save your PDF before closing this page; the custom list is not a public resource.
How the word search generator works
Use topic vocabulary, a class reading list or a family theme. The generator places every selected word once and provides matching answers. If a list cannot fit, it asks you to reduce the list or choose a larger grid. The preview updates automatically when you edit words or settings. Download and print are available once the preview is ready, so your output matches what you see.
Easy words go forwards across and down. Medium adds forward diagonals; hard can use all eight directions. Each PDF contains a puzzle page and a separate answer page. Print in portrait orientation at actual size, or choose Fit if your printer clips an edge. Use the prepared large print puzzles when bigger letters matter more than custom vocabulary.
Your custom puzzle questions
Is this word search maker free, and do I need an account?
It is free to use, with no signup or login. Your title, words and generated puzzle stay in the current browser page; they are not uploaded or stored in local storage. Download your PDF before closing the page if you want to keep it.
Can I use 50 words or preserve Spanish accents?
This maker accepts 4–16 words using English letters. It does not support 50-word lists or preserve accented characters. Even within that limit, long words may need a larger grid or a shorter list. It reports a problem rather than leave a word out or make the printed page too crowded.
Can I print without the custom answer key?
The downloaded PDF always contains both pages, so choose page 1 in its print dialog. The Print puzzle button prints just the activity unless you select Include answer key when printing.
Are custom grids the same size as your large print editions?
Custom letter size adapts to the chosen grid and paper. For a prepared 19-point letter grid with a 16-point word list, choose a puzzle from the dedicated large print collection.