Word Search Generator for Custom Hidden-Word Puzzles
This word search generator turns any list of words into a grid of hidden words you can solve on screen or print. Type your own vocabulary or load a ready-made theme, pick a grid size and difficulty, and a fresh puzzle appears instantly. It is built for teachers, parents, and event organizers who want a custom word search in seconds.
Beyond making the grid, you can play it right here: click and drag across the letters to find each word, watch your timer and progress bar, and reach a completion screen when every word is crossed off. Prefer paper? One click opens a clean, print-friendly version.
How to Make a Word Search
Add your words
Type a word and press Enter to add it as a chip — you can also separate several words with commas or spaces. In a hurry? Tap a Preset Theme like Animals, Colors, Countries, Food, Sports, Space, Music, or Ocean to load a ready-made list of ten words.
Set grid size and difficulty
Choose a Grid Size from 10×10 up to 20×20, then pick a Difficulty: Easy places words across and down only, Medium adds diagonals, and Hard uses all eight directions including reversed words.
Generate the puzzle
Click Generate Puzzle and the grid appears alongside a list of words to find. A timer, found-word counter, and progress bar start tracking your solve.
Play or print
Click and drag across letters to select a word — found words turn green and get crossed off the list. Use Hint to reveal a word's first letter, Scramble to re-lay the same words, or Print for a paper copy.
Features
Custom Word Input
Add your own words as chips by pressing Enter, or paste a list separated by commas and spaces — each word is easy to edit or remove.
Eight Preset Themes
Load a ready-made set of ten words from Animals, Colors, Countries, Food, Sports, Space, Music, or Ocean for an instant puzzle.
Adjustable Grid Size
Pick a grid from a compact 10×10 to a roomy 20×20 to match the number and length of your words.
Three Difficulty Levels
Easy keeps words across and down, Medium adds diagonals, and Hard hides words in all eight directions including reverse.
Interactive Play
Click and drag to select words directly on the grid; found words are highlighted with a line drawn over the letters.
Timer & Progress Tracking
A live timer, found-word counter, and progress bar follow your solve, ending with a completion screen and your final time.
Hint Button
Stuck on a word? The hint highlights the first letter of the next unfound word to point you in the right direction.
Scramble Layout
Regenerate the grid with a brand-new arrangement of the same word list for a fresh puzzle every time.
Print-Friendly Output
Send a clean, A4-ready version of the grid and word list to your printer for classroom, travel, or offline solving.
Unicode Support
Words can use accented and non-Latin letters, so you can build puzzles in many languages, not just English.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a word search puzzle?
Add at least two words (type and press Enter, or load a preset theme), choose a grid size and difficulty, then click Generate Puzzle. The hidden-word grid and a list of words to find appear right away.
How many words can I add to a puzzle?
You need at least two words to generate a puzzle, and each word must fit within the grid (its length cannot exceed the grid size). Larger grids hold more and longer words; if the generator cannot place everything, it suggests using fewer words or a bigger grid.
What grid sizes and directions can I set?
Grids range from 10×10 to 20×20. Easy hides words left-to-right and top-to-bottom only, Medium adds diagonals, and Hard uses all eight directions — including right-to-left, bottom-to-top, and reversed diagonals.
Can I print my word search or save it as a PDF?
Yes. Click Print to open your browser's print dialog with a clean, A4 layout of the puzzle. To save a PDF instead of printing, choose your browser's "Save as PDF" option in that same dialog.
Can I use words in languages other than English?
Yes. The generator accepts accented and non-Latin letters, so you can build puzzles in Vietnamese, Spanish, French, and many other languages. Empty grid cells are filled with letters drawn from your words for a consistent look.
Why does the puzzle fail to generate?
This happens when the words cannot physically fit on the grid — usually too many long words for a small grid. Increase the grid size or remove the longest words, then generate again.
How does the hint work?
The hint button highlights the first letter of the next unfound word on the grid, so you know where to start without giving the whole answer away.
Is my data stored anywhere?
No. All puzzle generation and gameplay happen entirely in your browser — there is no sign-up, and no words or puzzle data are ever sent to a server.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!