How to play word search
A word search hides a list of words in a grid of letters. Find each word and mark it. Words run in straight lines and never bend.
- Easy words only run across (left to right) and down.
- Medium adds diagonals.
- Hard adds words written backwards and upwards.
- Expert uses all eight directions on a bigger grid, with “near misses”: almost-words that are missing their last letter.
Every word in the list appears in the grid exactly once, so there’s never any doubt about which one you found.
Using the player
- Drag across a word with your finger or mouse, or tap its first letter and then its last letter.
- Found words are highlighted in the grid and crossed off the list.
- On a keyboard, use the arrow keys to move and Enter to mark the first and last letter.
- Your game is saved on this device. Use Save code / Continue later to carry on somewhere else.
Make your own word search
Open Use your own words, type 2 to 30 words (for example this week’s spelling list) and press Create puzzle. Each word needs 3 to 15 letters. A word can’t hide inside another word (like CAT inside CATERPILLAR), because then it would appear twice. You can print your puzzle with an answer key and share it with a link that contains your words.
Tips
- Look for unusual letters first, such as Q, Z, X or J.
- Scan for double letters, like the “LL” in GORILLA.
- On harder puzzles, remember that words can run backwards. Search for the last letter too.
- Cross off words as you go, so you always know what’s left.
Printing
Open Print or download under the puzzle for a free PDF on A4 or US Letter, with an optional answer key. Printed sheets never contain ads.