Printables / Puzzles
Crossword Puzzle Maker
Make a printable crossword from your own words and clues: the words are fitted together automatically, numbered, and printed with Across and Down clues and an answer page.
Crossword Puzzle Maker: The maker places the longest word first, then fits each remaining word across or down where it crosses a letter it shares with a word already placed, never letting letters touch where words do not cross. It tries dozens of arrangements and keeps the one that fits the most words with the most crossings in the smallest grid. Squares are numbered in reading order, as in printed crosswords, and the clues are listed under Across and Down with each answer's length. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- School & study tools
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Runs entirely in your browser
Across
- 2A system of billions of stars (6)
- 3When one body hides another (7)
- 7A vehicle that carries astronauts to space (6)
- 8A world that circles a star (6)
Down
- 1The force that pulls things together (7)
- 4An icy body with a glowing tail (5)
- 5The planet with the brightest rings (6)
- 6The path one body takes around another (5)
Answers
Writing good clues
For classrooms, write clues as definitions from the lesson, so the puzzle doubles as revision. Keep each clue shorter than a line, and check that only one answer of the right length fits it.
For other printable puzzles from the same words, make a word search; for numbers, a sudoku.
Printing
The puzzle prints on one page with its clues and the answers on a second page, so you can hand out the first and keep the second. Save as PDF in the print dialog to share it by email or on a learning platform.
How to use it
- Type each word and its clue on a line, such as planet: A world that circles a star.
- Check the layout, and press Try another layout until you like it.
- Print the puzzle and the answer page, or save them as a PDF.
Privacy & limitations
Everything runs in your browser; your words are kept only in this browser.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Why was a word left out?
It shares no letter with the others in a way that fits, which happens most with short words or unusual letters. Press Try another layout, add a word that shares its letters, or shorten the list of awkward words.
How many words work best?
Between 8 and 20. Longer words with common letters, such as E, A, R, and T, give more ways to cross and a tighter grid.
Can I use phrases?
Yes: spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes are removed, as in printed crosswords, so ice cream becomes ICECREAM; the length shown with the clue counts the letters.
Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required