Free crossword maker
Type your words, write the clues straight onto the puzzle, and download a printable crossword with an answer key. Skip the clues entirely for a word bank criss-cross, or press Play and solve it on screen. No signup, no watermark. Everything runs in your browser.
Free, and it stays free
Build and download as many crosswords as you want. No account, no email, no watermark, and nothing to upgrade to.
It interlocks for you
Type the words in any order. They lock together where they share letters, and the Across and Down lists are numbered automatically.
Clues optional
Write your own clues for any subject or reading level, or print a word bank instead and skip them. US Letter or A4, with an answer key.
Or start from a ready-made crossword
The words and the clues are already written. Print it as it is, or make it your own.
How to make a crossword
- 1
Type your words, or load a theme
One per line, no special format, or load one of 60 ready-made lists. They lock together wherever they share a letter, then get numbered in reading order into Across and Down.
- 2
Choose clues or a word bank
Word bank prints the answers under the grid, so there is nothing to write. Clues gives solvers a numbered hint for every word.
- 3
Write the clues on the puzzle
Click any line in the Across or Down list and type. You can see which word you are cluing and where it sits.
- 4
Print it or play it
Press Print for a PDF with the numbered grid, your clues or word bank, and an answer key. Or press Play and solve it on screen.
Questions, answered
Is the crossword maker free?
Yes. Build and download as many printable crosswords as you like, free, with no account and no watermark. There is no paid tier to upgrade to.
How do I add clues?
Type your words in the list on the left, then click any line in the Across or Down list next to the puzzle and write the clue there. You can see the word, its number and its place in the grid while you write. Pasting a list in the older "ANSWER: clue" form still works too.
Can I make one without writing clues?
Yes. Switch Solvers get to Word bank and the puzzle prints with the answers listed under the grid instead of clues, which is the criss-cross worksheet format. Solvers fit each word into the grid by its length and its crossing letters.
How are the words connected?
The generator interlocks your words wherever they share a letter, like a real crossword, then numbers them and splits them into Across and Down. It tries dozens of arrangements and keeps the one that fits the most words into the tightest grid.
Why didn't a word fit?
Crossword words must share at least one letter with another word to interlock. If a word shares no letters with the rest, we list it so you can press Reshuffle to try a different arrangement, or swap it out.
What do I get when I print?
A clean PDF sized for US Letter or A4, with the numbered grid, your clue lists or word bank, and an optional answer-key page. Grid style Open prints only the squares you write in, which saves a lot of ink on a classroom set; Classic blacks out the rest of the rectangle like a newspaper crossword. No watermark and no logo.
How many words can I add?
As many as will interlock. Longer lists make a denser grid; if the puzzle gets crowded, remove a word or two and reshuffle.
Can I solve it on screen instead of printing?
Yes. Press Play and the puzzle becomes a solvable board: type into the squares, move with the arrow keys, and press a clue to jump to it. There is a timer, a Check answers button and a Reveal this letter button, and your progress is kept if you close the tab.
Do you store my words?
No. The puzzle is built entirely in your browser and never sent anywhere. Your last list is saved only on your own device, so it is still there next time you visit.