How do I enter my word list?

Type the words you want to hide, one per line or separated by commas. They are placed into the grid and the remaining cells are filled with random letters.

Why was one of my words skipped?

A word is skipped if it is longer than the grid or if the generator cannot fit it after many placement attempts. Skipped words are flagged in the word list. Try a larger grid or shorter words.

How do I print or save the puzzle?

Use your browser's print command and choose Save as PDF to keep a copy, or print directly. The grid and word list are laid out for a clean printed page.

What grid size should I choose?

Pick a size from 6 to 20 to match your longest word and difficulty. Smaller grids are easier for young children; larger grids hold more and longer words for a harder challenge.

Can I make the same puzzle again?

Each generation places words and random fillers afresh, so regenerating produces a new layout. Print or save the version you like before generating another.

Are my words uploaded anywhere?

No. The grid is generated in your browser from your word list, and nothing is sent to a server.

Word Search Generator

Q: Which directions can the words run?

Words are hidden in all 8 directions — horizontal, vertical, both diagonals, and any of those reversed (backwards), which makes the puzzle harder to scan.

Make a custom printable word search

This generator turns your own list of words into a printable word search puzzle. It hides every word in the grid, fills the gaps with random letters, and lays it out ready to print or save as a PDF — ideal for classrooms, party games, vocabulary practice, and themed puzzles.

How it works

You enter words (one per line or comma-separated) and choose a grid size from 6 to 20. The generator places each word into the grid in one of 8 directions — horizontal, vertical, both diagonals, and any of those reversed — trying many positions so words can overlap where letters match. Once all words that fit are placed, every empty cell is filled with a random letter so the hidden words blend in. Any word longer than the grid, or that cannot be fitted after repeated attempts, is skipped and flagged in the list.

Setting	Range	Effect
Grid size	6–20	Larger grids hold more and longer words
Directions	8	Across, down, diagonals, and reversed

Example

Enter a fruit theme — APPLE, MANGO, GRAPE, LEMON — on a 12×12 grid. The tool places each word in a random direction (perhaps LEMON running diagonally backwards), fills the rest with random letters, and shows the word list below for solvers to tick off. Print it or save as a PDF.

Everything runs in your browser from your word list, and nothing is uploaded.