Crossword Puzzle Maker

Builds a crossword puzzle from your list of words and clues, joining the words where they share letters, and prints the puzzle sheet with numbered clues and an answer key. Use it to make a review crossword for a class.

How to use

1. In "Words and clues (one per line)", write each line as word: clue, such as "orbit: The curved path of one body around another", or paste two columns from a spreadsheet.
2. The grid is built at once. Press "Shuffle" for a different layout or if some words were left out.
3. Set the "Largest grid", "Letters given", "Print a word box with all the answers" and "Add an answer key page".
4. Press "Print", or "Save puzzle as PNG" for an image. On "Solve on screen", the puzzle can be solved on the page and marked with "Check".

How it works

• Each square holds one capital letter, or one syllable in Korean. Spaces and hyphens inside a word are left out of the grid, and words shorter than two letters are skipped.
• The tool tries many orders and keeps the layout that places the most words, with the most crossings, in the most compact grid. Clue numbers go on every square that starts an across or down word, reading row by row.
• Keep a list in this browser under "Saved on this device", or download it with "Save to a file".

Questions and answers

Why could some words not be placed in the crossword?

A word can only join the grid where it shares a letter with another word. Press "Shuffle", add words that share letters with it, or remove it.

How many words should a crossword have?

More words give more shared letters and a tighter puzzle. The example has 12 words. If the grid gets too large, limit it with "Largest grid".

Can I make the same puzzle again?

Yes. The same "Puzzle number" and the same words make the same puzzle.

Can I make an easier crossword for young children?

Choose "A few (easier)" or "More (easiest)" under "Letters given" to fill in some squares. "Print a word box with all the answers" adds the answers as a list to choose from.