Crossword Puzzle Maker
Turn your own words and clues into a printable crossword with an answer key. Free, fast, and your files never leave your device.
Add a word and its clue on each row (up to 20). The maker places the longest word first, then fits the rest so they cross.
Free for personal and classroom use. Selling or publishing these puzzles (books, worksheets, products) requires a Premium commercial licence — watermark-free downloads included.
How to use the Crossword Puzzle Maker
- Enter a word and a matching clue on each row. Click + Add word for more rows, up to 20 word-and-clue pairs.
- Give your puzzle a title if you like, then click Generate crossword.
- The maker places your longest word first, then fits every other word so it crosses an existing letter, and numbers the grid automatically.
- Review the Across and Down clue lists. Any word that could not be crossed is listed so you can adjust it.
- Click Print puzzle + answer key for a clean empty grid with clues on one page and the filled answer key on the next.
Why use ZillaKit's Crossword Puzzle Maker?
Making a crossword by hand is fiddly work — every word has to share a letter with another, the grid has to stay connected, and the numbering has to be right. This free crossword puzzle maker does all of that automatically in your browser. It uses a greedy crossing algorithm: it sorts your words longest-first, plants the first word, and then tries every possible intersection for each remaining word, choosing placements that create real crossings so the puzzle holds together. Words that genuinely cannot cross anything are reported clearly instead of being forced into an invalid layout. Because everything runs client-side, your words and clues never leave your device, there is no signup, and there are no watermarks on the printout. The print output is designed for the classroom: a clean, ink-friendly empty grid with numbered Across and Down clues on the first page, and a completed answer key on a separate page for fast grading. It is ideal for teachers building vocabulary or spelling review, trivia hosts, and anyone making a themed puzzle for an event.
FAQ
Is this crossword puzzle maker free?
Yes, it is completely free with no signup. You can generate and print as many crosswords as you like, and the printout has no watermarks.
Why did one of my words not get placed?
Every word after the first must share a letter with a word already on the grid. If a word has no letter in common with what is already placed, it cannot cross anything and is listed as "not placed". Adding a word that shares letters, or reordering, usually fixes it.
Does it number the clues automatically?
Yes. The grid is numbered top-to-bottom, left-to-right following standard crossword rules, and each clue is listed under Across or Down with its number.
Can I print an empty puzzle and a separate answer key?
Yes. The print button produces an empty numbered grid with the clue lists on the first page and a fully solved answer key on a second page.
Do my words and clues get uploaded?
No. The crossword is built entirely in your browser with JavaScript. Nothing is sent to any server, so your content stays private.