Free printable maker

Word Search Maker

Your words, a printable puzzle and an answer key. Grids from 10×10 to 20×20, words across, down, diagonal or backwards, a word list in three columns. Free, no account.

10 words. Spaces and punctuation are removed (“ice cream” becomes ICECREAM).

Grid size
Letter size
Directions
Paper

Prints as two pages: the puzzle, then the answer key. Free, no account.

Autumn word search

Name: Date:
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  • ACORN
  • HARVEST
  • HAYRIDE
  • LEAVES
  • MAPLE
  • ORCHARD
  • PUMPKIN
  • SCARECROW
  • SWEATER
  • WINDY

Autumn word search · Answer key

Q
W
S
D
F
V
C
S
V
H
G
O
Z
O
M
C
H
Y
W
P
A
W
K
H
C
S
A
K
A
E
Z
R
C
I
R
G
O
R
P
W
A
R
V
W
A
N
F
C
Q
V
L
T
I
E
E
H
J
D
J
P
L
N
E
P
S
V
A
C
T
Y
F
U
E
R
P
T
X
Y
R
C
R
V
Y
M
A
S
K
Y
R
W
I
O
O
O
D
P
V
Q
R
I
B
P
Q
C
G
R
W
K
E
D
D
F
V
X
O
Z
Z
E
N
I
S
E
X
O
O
R
C
H
A
R
D
N
M
W
A
G
S
G
W
L
A
K
E
L
  • ACORN
  • HARVEST
  • HAYRIDE
  • LEAVES
  • MAPLE
  • ORCHARD
  • PUMPKIN
  • SCARECROW
  • SWEATER
  • WINDY

getworksheet.co/tools/word-search-maker

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Using the puzzles

Making a word search that actually teaches

A word search works because finding a word means scanning for its letter pattern over and over: the child holds the spelling in mind, rejects near misses, and only stops when every letter is in order. That is rehearsal of the exact sequence of letters, which is why a puzzle built from this week's spelling list does more than a generic one. Ten to fifteen words is the sweet spot; thirty words in a 20×20 grid is a quiet-time activity, not a lesson.

Grid size and directions set the difficulty. For kindergarten and first grade use 10×10, across and down only, with the word list shown. From second grade add diagonals. “Allow backwards” roughly doubles the search time and is best kept for upper grades or as an extension for fast finishers. Hiding the word list (untick “Show word list”) and giving the words orally or on the board turns the same puzzle into a listening and spelling check.

Keep the answer key ticked. It prints as the second page with every hidden word shaded, so marking takes a glance, and you can hand it to a pair of students to check each other. Because the layout comes from a fixed seed, printing the sheet again next week gives the identical puzzle; press Shuffle when you want a fresh arrangement of the same words.

Ideas that work: a vocabulary preview before a science or history unit so the terms are familiar on day one; a sight-word hunt where children circle each word and then write it on the line underneath; a themed puzzle (autumn, Halloween, the class pet) for the first ten minutes of a Friday; and a “find the odd one out” version where you hide one word that does not belong and ask which it is.

Letters only: the maker strips spaces, hyphens and apostrophes, so ice cream is hidden as ICECREAM and don't as DONT. If a word will not fit, it is listed under the box; shorten it, choose a bigger grid, or allow another direction. The uppercase toggle switches both the grid and the list to lowercase for children who are still learning capital forms.

Pair the puzzle with the spelling worksheets or sight words worksheets for the same word list, or print a tracing sheet of the words for children who still need to practise forming the letters.

How it works

How to make a word search

Three steps from a word list to a two-page printable.

  1. 1

    Type the words

    Five to thirty words, one per line: this week's spelling list, unit vocabulary, a holiday theme. Give the puzzle a title.

  2. 2

    Set the grid

    10×10 for early readers up to 20×20 for long lists. Choose across, down, diagonal and whether words may run backwards. Shuffle for a new layout.

  3. 3

    Print

    Letter or A4. The puzzle prints with its word list and the answer key follows on page two.

Good to know

Questions, answered

Yes. Type your words, pick a grid size and print or save as a PDF, with the answer key as page two. No account, no watermark, no limit. The puzzle is built in your browser, so your word list is never uploaded.

From 5 to 30 words, letters only. Spaces and punctuation are removed, so "ice cream" is hidden as ICECREAM. A 10×10 grid comfortably hides 8 to 10 short words; 15×15 takes 15 to 20; use 20×20 for 25 to 30 words or anything long. A word that cannot be placed is listed under the box so you can shorten it or enlarge the grid.

Yes. Leave "Answer key page" ticked and the key prints as the second page: the same grid with every hidden word shaded, plus the word list. Untick it for a puzzle-only print.

US Letter and A4. Choose the paper in the builder; the grid is sized to fit the page with the word list in three columns underneath. "Save as PDF" in the print dialog gives you a file to share.

Press Shuffle. The layout is generated from a seed, so the same words and settings always give the same puzzle until you shuffle, which means a reprint matches the copy you handed out.

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