How to Create a Word Search

Building your own word search puzzle only takes a few steps:

1. Write your words. Enter one word per line in the generator's word list.
2. Choose a format. Use a classic grid or try a hexagonal word search for something different.
3. Customize the difficulty. Decide whether words can appear diagonally or reversed.
4. Pick a size. Adjust the grid's width and height to fit the number and length of your words.
5. Generate and share your puzzle. Click Create to generate the puzzle and share it online, or click Print and use the print preview to get it ready for your activity.

You can also let AI help you with the word list. Just enter a topic and how many words you want.

Want to explore other games? Check out our other generators here.

AI Word Search Generator

Not sure which words to use? Let artificial intelligence build the list for you.

Type a topic, for example "jungle animals," "the solar system," "Spanish vocabulary," or "fruits," and specify how many words you want. The AI will generate a list related to your topic that you can use to create your word search.

This comes in handy when you need to put together an educational activity quickly and don't want to look up words one by one.

Create a Word Find With Your Own Word List

You can also build a fully custom word search. Enter any list of words you'd like to use, and the generator will place them inside the grid.

You can create activities with:

• language vocabulary
• animal names
• countries and cities
• science concepts
• historical figures
• words tied to a reading assignment
• names for a party or event
• any other topic you can think of

The generator can also keep special letters, so accented characters and letters from other languages carry over correctly if your word list is not in English.

Classic or Hexagonal Word Search

The classic grid is the most familiar option: words can be hidden horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, depending on the options you select.

Want to try something different? The Hexagon format creates a word seek puzzle with a different structure, letting words run in directions that don't exist on a traditional grid.

A hexagonal word search can be a great choice when you want a more original puzzle or a bigger challenge.

Customize the Difficulty

Not every word search puzzle needs to be equally hard.

For an easy activity, limit the directions words can appear in. To raise the challenge, turn on Allow diagonals and Allow reversed.

You can tailor the activity to whoever will be solving it: kids, students, adults, or word game enthusiasts.

Printable Word Search Puzzles

A word search can also be turned into a worksheet for the classroom, for home, or for a special activity in just a few clicks.

Use the print preview to set the Title and Header, and decide whether to include a solution. That way you can prepare both the activity and an answer sheet without designing anything by hand.

If you need several activities on different topics, you can generate each one with its own word list.

Ideas for Using a Word Seek Puzzle

For Teachers

Create activities tied directly to the subject you're teaching. A vocabulary list from a lesson unit can quickly become a review activity.

For Language Learners

Use new words in English, Spanish, French, German, or any other language you're practicing. Searching for words in the grid helps you get familiar with their spelling and vocabulary.

For Kids

Pick simple words and a small grid to create an activity suited for younger children. To raise the difficulty, use longer words and allow diagonals or reversed words.

For Families and Activities

Create a themed word search for a party, a trip, a celebration, or a game night.

Why Use Oh, my Dots!?

Oh, my Dots! is built to take you from an idea to a finished puzzle without having to design anything by hand.

• Write your own words. You decide exactly which vocabulary shows up.
• Generate lists with AI. Enter a topic and let AI help you find words.
• Customize the grid. Adjust the width and height to fit your needs.
• Control the difficulty. Turn diagonals and reversed words on or off.
• Try a hexagonal grid. Create a word search style that's different from the traditional grid.
• Get it ready to print. Use the preview to generate an activity that's ready to print.

Tips for Building a Good Word Search

For an easy activity, use relatively short words and a grid small enough that finding the words stays simple.

For a harder activity, use longer words, a bigger grid, and allow them to appear diagonally or reversed.

If you're using very long words, make sure the grid has enough room for them. A good balance between the number of words, their length, and the grid size will make the puzzle challenging without being frustrating.

Frequently Asked Questions