Printable Word Searches

Looking for printable word searches? When faced with a puzzle, almost everyone will set their minds to solving it. A word search is one particular form of puzzle.  In these puzzles, a person is faced with a grid of letters. They are given a list of words that have to found on this grid.  Words can run in any direction including vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Words can also be found on the grid spelled backwards.  Finally, words can also overlap with each other.  Word searches range from very simple with only a few words up to very complicated versions.  At the least, they are challenging and engaging.

Doing a Word Search Puzzle

Some people employ word search strategies, such as looking for the first letter of the word or looking for an unusual letter in the word. Once they identify an unusual letter or the first word, they look forwards, backwards and on the diagonal to see if the word is spelled out. Others just scan and try to identify parts of a word and don't employ a particular method. Once the words are found they are ringed, crossed out or highlighted. Sometimes when you have found all of the words, the puzzle will spell out a message.  The biggest advantage of word searches lies in their simplicity. While everyone can understand the rules and the goal, the challenge comes from actually locating the words on the grid. They are fun and can help teach new words and improve spelling. Since many kids tend to learn better through play, and are more engaged when playing games than listening to lectures, many teachers are even introducing word searches into the classroom as a way to teach vocabulary.

Links to Printable Word Searches

• ABC Teach offers a good assortment of word searches with themes such as Football, Cat in the Hat, School Days and more. These word searches are presented in a .PDF format which makes for easy and neat printable word searches; however, Adobe Acrobat is required in order to download these word searches.
• Free Color Pages offers a range of about eight word searches plus answer sheets. Click on the link, wait for the word search page to load, and then click on the image to print it out.

• Puzzle Choice offers about 200 word searches, many of which are quite simple and appropriate for people of all ages. There is no printable button though. Once the word search has loaded it needs to be copied and pasted into a word document for printing.
• Kokolikikok allows users to create their own word searches. A new page will appear complete with easy to understand and use prompts for creating word searches. Select the title or name for the word search and then select the difficulty by selecting the directions the words can go in. The size of the word search is selected next, and after that the list of words is input. The minimum number of words allowed is five. When done click on “Create My Custom Puzzle”. It will be loaded onto a new page. To print you will need to copy and paste it into a word document.
• Holiday Kaboose offers word searches in varying degrees of difficulty. They offer printable versions but this website is difficult to navigate due to the amount of advertisements on the site. However it does offer a search function.
• Activity Pad offers many printable and free word searches plus answer sheets. These are great for kids of all ages, and have varying degrees of difficulty.
• Free Kids Games offers printable word searches that contain hidden messages. This can be especially engaging for children, who may enjoy feeling as though they are solving a mystery when they search for the hidden message.
• Have Fun Teaching is a site where teachers can create their own word search puzzles.  Simply choose one of the many shapes and sizes, fill in the information and once completed the word search opens in a new page which is easy to print.