Free Crossword Puzzle Maker
Enter your own words and clues and get an auto-laid-out crossword grid with numbered across and down clues, plus an optional answer key. Everything runs in your browser — no sign-up, no app.
Tips for a great crossword
Pick words with overlapping letters
Words that share common letters — especially vowels like A and E — connect to the grid more easily than words with no letters in common at all.
Lead with your longest words
The layout places longer words first since they anchor the grid. Put your 2-3 most important words at the top of the list so they're guaranteed a spot.
Write clues that point to one answer
Vague clues frustrate solvers. "A tool used to write" is clearer than "You use it" — specific enough to narrow down to your intended word.
Check the skipped-word warning
If a word can't connect to the grid, it prints in the warning message instead of silently vanishing — reorder your list or swap the word for one with shared letters and try again.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I add clues to my crossword?
- Type the word, then a vertical bar, then the clue — for example "PENCIL | You write with it". Each line becomes one word in the puzzle.
- How does the grid layout work?
- Words are placed automatically, longest first, connecting through shared letters wherever possible — the same way a real crossword is built. Words that can't be connected to the grid are listed as skipped so you can adjust your word list.
- Can I print an answer key?
- Yes. Check "Include answer key page" and a second, fully filled-in grid prints after the blank puzzle.
- How many words can one crossword have?
- Up to 20 words per puzzle. More words with shared letters (like common vowels) connect more easily than words that don't overlap at all.
- Why was one of my words skipped?
- A word gets skipped if the layout couldn't find a spot where it shares a letter with an already-placed word without creating a conflict. Reordering your list or picking words with more common letters usually fixes it.
- What makes a good crossword clue?
- A clear, specific definition works best — "Frozen water" for ICE rather than something vague. For vocabulary practice, a short definition; for trivia, a fact that points to exactly one answer.