Word Search Maker
Type your own words — spellings, science terms, Hindi or Punjabi vocabulary — and get a real puzzle in one click. Play it on screen or print an A4 sheet with a separate answer key.
To make a word search, type your own words one per line, up to 30, choose Easy, Medium or Hard and press Make puzzle. Easy hides words across and down, Medium adds diagonals and Hard also reverses them. You can then play it on screen or print an A4 sheet with a separate answer key.
Your words
One word per line, up to 30. Spaces are removed automatically.
Drag across a word, or tap the first letter and then the last letter. Arrow keys + Enter also work.
Find these words
Sheet details
These appear on the printed A4 page.
A puzzle built from your spelling list
Nothing is left to chance: every word is really placed in the grid, and if one does not fit you are told exactly which word and why.
Paste your words
One per line — this week's spellings, science terms, or pick a ready list.
Choose the challenge
Easy keeps words across and down; Medium adds diagonals; Hard also hides them backwards.
Play on screen
Drag across a word to lock it in, with a timer, hints and a celebration at the end.
Print or save
Get a clean A4 sheet with a name–class–date header, plus a separate answer key.
How words are hidden
The longest word goes in first, then each word is tried at hundreds of random positions and directions. Positions that cross an existing word on a shared letter score higher, so the grid stays tight and the puzzle gets harder.
A word is only dropped when it truly cannot fit — and then you see the reason: too long for the grid, repeated, or no space left.
Hindi & Punjabi done properly
In Devanagari and Gurmukhi a letter carries its matra: पु, स्त, ਕਿ each sit in one box, exactly as children write them. The filler letters are built from the same script, so Hindi words never hide among English letters.
Example: पुस्तक uses 3 boxes — पु · स्त · क.
Ways to use it in class
- Friday spelling revision — paste the week's list, print 1 sheet per child.
- Chapter vocabulary before a science or SST test.
- Smartboard warm-up: open Classroom mode and let children call out words.
- Early finishers: give the same list with Hard mode on.
The puzzle code
Every puzzle has a short code. Keep the same code, words and settings and you get the identical grid again — handy when you print today and need the answer key tomorrow, or want the whole class to have the same sheet.
Press New puzzle for a fresh code and a completely different arrangement.
Word Search Maker — your questions
How do I make a word search with my own words?
Type your words in the box, one per line, up to 30 of them. Spaces are removed automatically, and words of three letters or more work best. Choose a difficulty and grid size, then press Make puzzle. Every word is genuinely placed in the grid, and any word that cannot fit is named with the reason.
Is this word search maker free to print?
Yes, completely. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many puzzles you make. Print an A4 sheet with your school name, a title and instructions at the top, and tick Add answer-key page to get a second page showing where every word is hidden.
How many words should a word search have?
For Class 3 to 5, twelve to sixteen words in a 13x13 or 14x14 grid is the sweet spot — big enough to be interesting and small enough to finish in one period. For Class 1 and 2, keep Easy mode with eight to ten short words. Older children can take Hard mode with the same list.
Can I make a word search in Hindi or Punjabi?
Yes. Devanagari and Gurmukhi words are handled properly: a letter carries its matra in one box, exactly as children write it, so पुस्तक uses three boxes — पु, स्त and क. The filler letters are built from the same script, so Hindi words never hide among English letters.
How are the words hidden in the grid?
The longest word is placed first, then each remaining word is tried at hundreds of random positions and directions. Positions that cross an existing word on a shared letter score higher, so the grid stays tight and the puzzle is harder. A word is dropped only when it genuinely cannot fit.
Can I get the same puzzle again tomorrow?
Yes. Every puzzle has a short code shown at the top. Keep the same code, the same words and the same settings and you get the identical grid back — useful when you print the sheet today and need the answer key tomorrow, or want the whole class to have the same puzzle.