Little words,
waiting to be found.
Search familiar English words in a grid. Start with right-and-down clues, or choose all directions for a more demanding page. The matching answer is included in your download.
Make a word search packFind the words in straight lines
The printable word hunt gives you an English word list and a square grid of uppercase letters. Find each listed word in a straight line, circle it and tick its box in the list. Words can cross or share letters. The allowed directions depend on the difficulty; a word never bends around a corner.
The words come from a small original everyday-object list, such as TREE, BOOK, CLOUD and CUP. The activity is a letter-search puzzle, not a personalised vocabulary lesson or a translation tool.
| Row | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Q | S | U | N | H | Y |
| B | S | R | R | L | P | W |
| C | C | U | P | Y | N | K |
| D | L | B | Y | B | Y | T |
| E | L | A | J | A | Q | T |
| F | H | G | B | X | T | B |
Look right, then look down
Start with the first letter of a listed word. Follow a straight line and check every letter. In this mini example, words go right or down and never turn a corner.
Mini word-search answers
- SUN: row A, column 2, right.
- BAG: row D, column 2, down.
- CUP: row C, column 1, right.
This original 6 × 6 teaching sample has three words. A generated Easy page has a 10 × 10 grid and six words.
Which directions are allowed?
- Easy · 10 × 10 grid, 6 words
- Words go right or down. Suggested 5+ with shared English reading. A reader can say the word aloud and point out its first letter.
- Standard · 12 × 12 grid, 9 words
- Words go right, down or diagonally down-right. Suggested 8+ with independent reading.
- Challenge · 14 × 14 grid, 12 words
- Words can go in all eight directions, including left, up and backwards diagonals. Suggested 12+ and confident readers or adults.
The age suggestions are guidance only. If English reading is unfamiliar, use Easy or share the word list. Picture-led activities in the common pack offer another choice.
Make a word-search-only PDF
- Use Make a word search pack below. It opens the maker with only Word hunt selected.
- Choose your difficulty and A4 or US Letter. Add any other activity if you want a mixed pack.
- Use the preview tabs, then download. A word-search-only selection has one activity page and one attached answer page.
The answer shows the placements used to make that exact grid. New pack changes the chosen words, their placements and filler letters; the finite word pool means familiar words can appear again. Download keeps the current grid and answers together.
Print clearly and check one word at a time
Both paper sizes use grayscale vector letters with at least a half-inch safe margin. Match the selected paper and use 100% / Actual size if you print. Ink-light mode keeps the header white; it does not remove the letters or answer.
Choose one word, scan for its first letter, then check only the directions allowed by the level. Checking the whole spelling helps avoid circling a similar sequence. Accidental extra letter sequences can occur in filler letters; the word list tells you which placed words to find.
For a puzzle with less reading, try the maze guide. The activity pack guide explains all eight activities and the common download controls.
Ready for a little paper adventure?
Choose the pages that suit you. The preview and download use the same puzzles, and their matching answers travel in the same PDF.
Make a word search pack