How to Make a Crossword Puzzle (Print or Solve Online)

To make a crossword, open the Crossword Puzzle Maker, give it a Puzzle title, and type each Answer with its Clue. Press Build the puzzle: the grid is worked out for you, with the words crossing as tightly as possible and numbered Across and Down. Solve it on screen, or Print it — with an answer key on a separate page if you like.

Make a crossword step by step

1. Open the Crossword Puzzle Maker.
2. Type the Puzzle title.
3. Add your words: an Answer and a Clue on each row. Add or remove rows as needed.
4. Press Build the puzzle.
5. Don't like the layout? Press Rearrange for a different arrangement of the same words.
6. Words that share no letter with the others are listed as left out — replace or add a word that links them.
7. Solve it on screen, or Print it, ticking the option to print an answer key too.

How the grid is built

The longest words are placed first, while there's most room; each further word is tried everywhere it shares a letter with a placed word. Every position is scored for crossings and compactness, the whole layout is attempted many times, and the best result is kept.

Words are only placed where they genuinely cross — never side by side — because neighbouring words would form extra two-letter "words" that aren't in any clue.

Choosing words that fit well

• Mix lengths. A few long words give short ones plenty of places to cross.
• Prefer common letters. A, E, I, O, R, S, T and N interlock far more easily than J, Q, X and Z.
• Eight to twenty words suits one page.
• Multi-word answers are fine: spaces and punctuation are dropped — "ice cream" becomes ICECREAM, as in any crossword.

Writing good clues

• Match the audience. Definitions for vocabulary practice ("A large body of salt water"), facts for revision ("Planet closest to the Sun"), in-jokes for parties.
• One clear answer per clue.
• Add the letter count if it helps younger solvers — the printed clue list shows each answer's length.

Solving on screen

• Click a square to type; click again to switch between Across and Down.
• Arrow keys move, Tab or Space flips direction, Backspace clears and steps back.
• Check strikes through wrong letters; Reveal fills in the answers; the puzzle says when it's solved.

Printing for a class or party

Print produces a clean sheet: the title, an empty numbered grid and the Across and Down clues in two columns, with the on-screen buttons left out. Tick the answer key option to print the solution on its own page — print once, hand out the first page, keep the second.

Ideas

• Vocabulary and spelling practice for any subject.
• Revision — key terms from a chapter, with definitions as clues.
• Training courses — terms from the session.
• Weddings, birthdays and office parties — names and shared memories.
• Newsletters — a monthly puzzle about recent news.

Make a matching word cloud of the topic's key words for the classroom wall, or plan the topic first in a mind map.

Privacy

The puzzle is generated in your browser — your words and clues aren't sent anywhere or stored.

Frequently asked questions

Why was one of my words left out?

It shares no letter with any word in the grid. Add a word that contains some of its letters, or change it.

Can I control where words go?

The layout is automatic. Press Rearrange until you like it.

Is there a word limit?

No fixed limit, but beyond about twenty words grids grow faster than they interlock — split long lists into two puzzles.