Free Word Search Maker for Teachers

Build a custom word search puzzle from any word list in seconds. Type your words, pick a difficulty and grid size, and get a print-ready puzzle with answer key. Share a link so students can solve it online, or print for classroom use. Free for teachers and students.

Printable Word Search Maker

Every word search you create on Gridl is print-ready. Click Print from the canvas to get a clean, full-page puzzle. Toggle "Show answers" to reveal the answer key overlay before printing, so you get both the puzzle and the key from a single view. A name/date header can be added for worksheet-style handouts.

How to Make a Word Search

1. Add your words: Type words in the text area, one per line or comma-separated, then click Generate Word Search.
2. Set difficulty: Easy places words horizontally and vertically only. Moderate adds diagonals. Hard allows backwards and overlapping words for a real challenge.
3. Set grid size: Leave the columns and rows blank to auto-size, or enter specific values up to 30x30 for a larger grid.
4. Customize: Switch to the Customize tab to add a description, change background colors and patterns, or upload your own background image.
5. Save and share: Give your puzzle a name and click Save to get a shareable link. Students can open it in any browser and highlight words by clicking and dragging.

Word Search Maker Features

• Live preview: The puzzle appears in a side-by-side canvas as you build, so you always see what students will see.
• Custom grid size: Set exact column and row counts up to 30x30, or let the builder auto-size to fit your word list.
• Three difficulty levels: Easy (horizontal and vertical), Moderate (adds diagonals), and Hard (all directions including backwards).
• Show answers toggle: Highlight all word positions in the grid with one click, useful for printing an answer key.
• Background patterns: Choose from forest, mountains, flowers, stars, and waves, or upload your own image (Pro).
• Interactive online solving: Students click and drag to highlight words. A confetti celebration plays when they find them all.
• Access codes: Lock puzzles with a code students must enter before solving, great for timed classroom activities (Pro).
• Folders: Organize word searches by unit, subject, or class (Pro).
• CSV upload: Import a word list from a spreadsheet in one step (Pro).

Word Search Maker for Teachers

Gridl is built around the classroom workflow. Create a puzzle for your current vocabulary unit, lock it with an access code so students can only open it during class, then use the show-answers toggle to project the answer key at the end of the period. Save all your puzzles in folders organized by class or subject, and reuse them every year. The same word list can instantly become a crossword puzzle, flash card deck, matching game, or live quiz with no extra work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the word search maker free?

Yes. You can create one word search per day for free with no account required. Sign up for a free account to save your puzzles, or upgrade to Pro for unlimited puzzles, custom backgrounds, CSV upload, folders, and access codes.

Can I print a word search with an answer key?

Yes. Toggle "Show answers" in the puzzle controls panel to highlight all word positions, then click Print. You get the answer key and the blank puzzle from the same view.

What grid sizes are available?

You can set any grid size from 5 columns/rows up to 30x30. Leave the size fields blank and the builder will auto-size based on the number and length of your words.

Can students solve the word search online?

Yes. Save your puzzle and share the link. Students open it on any device, then click and drag to highlight words. When they find every word, confetti appears.

What difficulty levels are available?

Easy places words only horizontally and vertically, which works well for younger students. Moderate adds diagonal placements. Hard adds backwards and overlapping words for a real challenge.

What other puzzle types does Gridl support?

Gridl supports crossword puzzles, word searches, flash cards, matching games, bingo cards, worksheets, and Quizl live quiz games. All types are free to start.

Start building a word search | Browse free word search puzzles | Browse all community puzzles