✍️ Crossword Maker
Build your own crossword puzzle from a list of words and clues.
How to play
- Type a title and 4-15 lines in the form WORD: clue.
- Click Generate Puzzle to build a real crossword from your words.
- Click a square or clue, then type to solve it on-screen.
- Or click Print / Download for a blank, printable copy.
- Click Edit Word List anytime to make a new puzzle.
Make a real crossword puzzle from your own words and clues
Crossword Maker is a free tool for turning any list of words into a genuine, generated crossword puzzle. Type a title, enter 4 to 15 words with a clue for each in the form WORD: clue, and the puzzle is generated instantly by actually placing each word into a grid so it crosses another word at a shared letter, the same criss-cross placement this site's Mini Crossword uses, not a fake or pre-made template.
Once generated, the puzzle can be solved right on the page, clicking a square or a clue and typing letters, with Check Puzzle and Reveal Letter to help along the way. Or click Print / Download for a blank, printable version of the grid and clue list, perfect for a classroom worksheet, a birthday party activity, or a puzzle to solve on paper. If a word can't find a place to cross another word by a shared letter, it's listed separately so nothing silently goes missing, and picking words with more shared letters usually fixes it.
This is genuinely useful for a spelling list, a study guide, a family trivia night, or any set of words that matters to you. It's free, works with a mouse, touchscreen, or keyboard, needs no download or account, and your last word list is remembered locally in your own browser for next time. See the Parents & Safety page for the full privacy details, or try the ready-made Mini Crossword game, or browse the rest of the Word Games hub.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my own crossword puzzle?
Type a title, then enter 4 to 15 lines in the form WORD: clue, one per line. Click Generate Puzzle and a real crossword is created instantly from your words.
Why didn't all my words end up in the puzzle?
Crossword words have to cross each other at a shared letter. Any word that can't find a place to cross is listed separately so you know it was left out. Try words that share more letters with each other.
Can I print the puzzle I make?
Yes. Click Print / Download to open a blank, printable version of the grid and clue list, ready to solve on paper or save as a PDF.
Is there a limit on word length or count?
Each word can be 3 to 12 letters, letters only, and you can enter up to 15 words with clues per puzzle.