Crossword Puzzle Maker

Make a crossword from your own words and clues. Review numbered Across and Down clues, see omitted words, and print the puzzle with its answer key.

Opening your tool…

What is a crossword puzzle maker?

A crossword puzzle maker arranges supplied answers so matching letters cross in a connected grid. Players fill those answers using numbered Across and Down clues. This crossword generator uses your own words and clues and produces a blank puzzle plus a matching filled answer key.

How to use the crossword puzzle maker

Enter 2–20 lines in the format WORD | clue. Words need 2–20 English letters; each clue can use up to 100 characters.
Generate a connected layout. Review the included count and any words that could not be placed.
Check numbered Across and Down clues. Show answer key fills the same grid without changing it.
Download the blank puzzle and answer key in one A4 PDF. Longer clue lists may continue onto extra pages.

Try this workflow

Keep the 12 example fruit words and clues, then generate. KIWI shares no letter with the other example answers, so it cannot join their crossword and is listed as not included. Replace it with a connecting word or leave it out; the exported clues include only words placed in the grid.

Ways to use this tool

Vocabulary recall

Write clues in your own words to test meanings, definitions or topic knowledge. Choose answers that share letters so they can connect.

Topic reviews

Make a small puzzle from terms already covered in a lesson or workshop. Review your clues for accuracy and ambiguity before printing.

Personalized activities

Create clues about a club or event using short English-letter answers. The tool arranges your content; it does not write or fact-check clues.

How the crossword layout is built

The generator tries several word orders and keeps the layout that fits the most answers. New words must cross an existing word at a matching letter. It avoids conflicting letters and parallel overlaps.

Not every supplied list forms a connected crossword. Words with no shared letters cannot join one layout. A valid crossing can also be blocked by surrounding cells, so another generation may produce a different included count.

Clue numbers follow starting cells from top to bottom and left to right. Across and Down answers beginning in the same cell share a number. Omitted words do not receive a clue number.

Answers accept A–Z only; clues can contain ordinary text. This is a custom educational crossword, not a newspaper-style constructor with rotational symmetry, a dictionary or automatic clue writing.

Keep and share your result

Exports use the current result without generating again. After editing inputs, generate a new result to apply the changes. Downloaded PDFs use high-resolution page images on A4 paper; they are printable but their text is not selectable. Use available copy or CSV options when you need editable text.

Your entered names, words, clues and tasks are processed in this browser. These tools do not upload them, put them in the URL, store them in browser storage or include them in analytics events. Refreshing or leaving the page discards the current result. General site analytics still run; see the privacy policy.

Crossword Puzzle Maker FAQs

Can I use my own crossword words and clues?

Yes. Enter one pair per line as WORD | clue. Use 2–20 distinct answers, each with 2–20 English letters, and a nonempty clue of up to 100 characters.

Why are some words not included?

Words must connect through shared letters and fit without conflicts. An unconnected or blocked answer is listed explicitly. Edit the list or generate again; the tool does not guarantee every word will fit.

Does the crossword PDF have answers?

Yes. It contains the blank puzzle with its numbered clues, followed by the matching answer key. Long clue lists can add continuation pages.

Can the tool write clues for me?

No. You supply the clues. Check spelling, factual accuracy and whether a clue has more than one possible answer before sharing the puzzle.

Are missing words silently removed?

No. The page and PDF list words that were not placed. Only placed words appear in the numbered Across and Down lists.