Even before I started selling resources, I loved to make word searches. I just love word searches in general. It really doesn’t matter who you’re making the word search for, they can be fun and entertaining. Word searches are great for all ages from little ones (my Kinders always love them) to adults.
Over time, I’ve found several great word search makers online and I’d like to share them with you. Some are free and some are for purchase. If you plan on using one or need one for commercial use, please check the Terms of Use (TOU) or similarly named from each one to make sure that it’s allowed. If you can’t find a TOU, please contact the site to ask them what is or isn’t allowed.
Here are just some of the word search makers that I’ve found over time. Alright, so it’s 10….my top 10!
The FREE ones….
1. Discovery Education Puzzlemaker
There are 8 steps to using this puzzlemaker. You can choose title, size of the puzzle, shared letters, upper case or lower case, you words, to add directions or not, check your words and create the puzzle. You can also choose your output type (image or HTML). My favorite thing about this word search maker is that it allows you to put in whole paragraphs, instead of just a word per line. There is also an option to generate an answer key with this one. There are also other puzzlemakers available on this site like Fallen Phrase, Cryptogram, Maze, Hidden Message, and more! Discovery Education does not allow commercial use.
2. Two Lime Prints
This puzzle maker has plenty of options with it. Some of the choices are grid size, grid shape, font, word direction, color (title, grid, words), border, and more. You can also select to have it generate the answer. The word search will generate as a PDF (or a PNG). Just print and start playing!
3. The Word Search
This word search maker allows you to add between 10 to 30 words to make your puzzle with the maximum word length being 14 letters. For this one, it allows you to have spaces and dashes, which it will remove when it generates your puzzle. This generator allows you to play online or print your puzzle out. This site holds your puzzles for 30 days and they just may add it to their collection of available puzzles!
4. SuperKids
This puzzle maker doesn’t have many options available, but it’s still a good one. You can select the grid size and whether or not you want it to be an easy puzzle (no backward words). Also, this one doesn’t allow numbers, spaces, or punctuation and it’s one word per line. There is no answer key available.
5. A to Z Teacher Stuff
This generator has a few choices like title, rows and columns, font style, font size, grid style, and word placement (direction). Words can be from two to 15 letters and they can be place in the list separated by a comma or a space, or one per line. For this one, you can also select from existing word lists. There is no answer key available.
6. Super Teacher Worksheets
This generator lets you choose level (basic, intermediate, advanced), header, alphabetized word list, and letter case style. Words can be from three letters to sixteen letters with a recommended number of words of 20.
7. ABCYa
There’s only 3 steps involved to make a word search with this maker. This can be used for teaching children to spell at home or at school.
8. Puzzlefast
This one allows you to make clues, phrases, multiple words, or omit for just the word. There are also other types of puzzles available. This one is very easy to use!
9. Tools for Educators
This word search maker allows you to use images or text for hints/clues. You can choose the font, 3 grid sizes, and upper or lower case letters. If you use image clues, you can make up to 16. They can be printed or used online.
10. The Teacher’s Corner
This word search maker allows you to use multi-word entries. You can also make hidden message word searches. There are lots of options like font, how many rows and columns, word placement, showing grid lines, and how many columns for the word list. There is also the fun option to choose a shape for the puzzle from square to a car to a heart….and more!
The PAID ones….
123 Word Search Maker
$24.95/$18.71 with Educational Discount – Save $5 if you buy with the Crossword Weaver – FREE demo
There are 4 styles of word searches to include standard, hidden message, clues, and clues with hidden message. You can also choose difficulty level, word direction, letter sharing, upper case or lower case (or both), and you can even choose how it prints. Some of those options include export as text, export as HTML, export as image, and more.
Automatic Word Puzzle Maker
$10.00 – Bundle available for $30.00 (includes Word Search, Crossword Puzzle, Matching, Word Scramble, Letter Shapes, and Secret Code) – FREE demo
This generator operates in/with MS Word by using macros. It functions on Win or Mac. To use, enter your words and clues/descriptions, then generate your puzzle. It also generates an answer key. Some options when making your puzzle is upper case or lower case, grid shape, size, and more. Spaces between words are removed. Once generated, you save your puzzle as an editable file so you can alter it if needed, copy/paste into the project your making, and so on. They offer customer service and have a YouTube channel on how to use the puzzle maker. Commercial use is allowed.
Word Search Machine
$20.00 – Combo available for $36.00 (includes Word Search Machine and Crossword Puzzle Machine
This program works on PC and MAC by using Flash Player. In just a matter of minutes, you can create a word search that can be printed or saved as an image. Complete directions for set-up and use are included. You can insert up to 30 words. You have options like puzzle size and how often letters are shared. It will also generate an answer key if you select that option. Commercial use is allowed.
There are so many more, but these are the favorites that I’ve used over the years. There’s so many that are so good and worth mentioning. However, I did want to limit it to 10 so that it wouldn’t overdue it. I hope that you find this useful and that it’ll help you in your word search endeavors.
Do you have any favorite word search generators? If so, please let me know in the comments. I’d love to know if you have used any that I’ve used and didn’t include or maybe didn’t know about it. Also, let me know if you’ve used any of these and if you like them as much as I do!
