# Word Search Maker > Make a printable word search in seconds: pick one of 48 themes (Christmas, Halloween, animals, space…) at easy, medium, or hard level, use random dictionary words, or type your own — with large print and an answer key. - Page: https://linguaholic.com/tools/word-search-maker/ - Type: free online tool (Word games & fun), no sign-up, runs in the browser - Publisher: Linguaholic (https://linguaholic.com/), made by Marcel Iseli - Last updated: October 2, 2026 - Open it pre-filled: https://linguaholic.com/tools/word-search-maker/?theme=christmas&level=hard - `theme`: a ready-made theme key (for example christmas, halloween, thanksgiving, animals, spring) or random for random dictionary words (for example `christmas`) - `level`: easy, medium (default) or hard (for example `hard`) - `words`: your own words, comma-separated (letters only, 2-20 letters each, up to 40 words); used when no theme is given (for example `cat,dog,horse`) - `title`: puzzle title for your own words (up to 80 characters) (for example `Pets`) ## What is a word search maker? A **word search maker** turns a list of words into a printable word search puzzle. Pick one of 48 ready-made themes — from Christmas and Halloween to dinosaurs and space — or type your own words, and the tool hides them in a grid of random letters and adds an answer key. It’s made for teachers, parents, parties, and anyone who loves puzzles, and every puzzle is free to print. ## How to make a word search 1. Choose a **word list**: a theme, random words from the dictionary, or *My own words*. 2. Pick a **difficulty** — it chooses the words (for themes) and the directions they run. 3. Edit the title or the words if you like, and choose a grid size (Auto fits the words). 4. Tap **New puzzle** for a different layout, then **Print / PDF**. ## Frequently asked questions **How do I make my own word search?** Choose 'My own words' (or just edit any list), type your words one per line, pick a difficulty and grid size, and the puzzle is built instantly. Tap Print / PDF to get a clean printable puzzle plus an answer key. **What themes are there?** There are 48 ready-made themes with more than 2,000 hand-picked words — holidays like Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, and Valentine's Day, the four seasons, animals, dinosaurs, space, the body, food, sports, jobs, pirates, fairy tales, and more. Each theme has an easy, medium, and hard word list. **What do the difficulty levels do?** For themes, the level picks the words: easy has 12 short words, medium 15 longer ones, hard 18 long words. It also sets the directions: easy places words across and down only, medium adds diagonals, and hard also allows backwards words. **Can I print a large print word search?** Yes. Tick 'Large print' before you print and the letters and word list come out bigger — ideal for seniors, young readers, and anyone with low vision. A 10 × 10 or 12 × 12 grid gives the biggest letters. **Can it make a random word search?** Yes. Choose 'Random words from the dictionary' and the maker picks words from a family-friendly list of about 39,000 everyday English words; the difficulty controls how common and how long they are. Tap New words for a fresh set. **Is there a limit on the number of words?** You can add up to 40 words, each 2 to 20 letters. If a word does not fit the grid you chose, the tool tells you so you can pick a larger grid or shorter words. **Can I print it or save a PDF?** Yes. The Print / PDF button opens a clean, ad-free worksheet with the puzzle, a name and date line, a word bank, and a separate answer-key page. From the print dialog you can print it or choose 'Save as PDF'. **Is my word list uploaded anywhere?** No. The whole puzzle is generated in your browser — nothing you type is uploaded or stored. ## Data sources Word data: Linguaholic’s English dictionary, built from the open ENABLE and SCOWL word lists, the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (pronunciation and syllables) and Princeton WordNet (meanings). 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