Crossword Puzzle Maker
A free crossword maker: enter answers and clues, and Print Puzzle Maker builds an interlocking crossword with numbered clues, ready to print with its answer key. No sign-up, nothing published online.
12 words, 13 crossings, 13×11 grid. PDF: the puzzle with its clues, then the answer key.
Across
- 3. The only planet known to have life (5)
- 5. Planet famous for its bright rings (6)
- 7. The Red Planet (4)
- 9. Largest planet in the solar system (7)
- 10. Ice giant that spins on its side (6)
- 11. Earth's natural satellite (4)
Down
- 1. Hottest planet, named after a Roman goddess (5)
- 2. The path a planet follows around the Sun (5)
- 4. Icy traveler with a glowing tail (5)
- 6. Planet farthest from the Sun (7)
- 7. Smallest planet and the closest to the Sun (7)
- 8. The star at the center of our solar system (3)
One per line: answer: clue, for example “Mars: The Red Planet”. 3 to 40 lines; 8 to 20 words make the best grids.
How to make your own crossword
- Replace the sample with your own lines, written as answer: clue.
- Watch the grid build itself as you type; press Shuffle for a different layout.
- Tick Show answers to check the grid, then pick Letter or A4.
- Download the PDF: the puzzle and clues first, the answer key last.
How the crossword is built
The longest answer goes in first. Each next word is placed where it crosses the most letters while keeping the grid compact; when a word has nowhere to go, the generator steps back and tries the runner-up spots of earlier words. It runs this on many word orders and keeps the grid with the most words and crossings.
Every grid follows the usual crossword rules: words only touch where they cross, and every run of letters is a real answer, so there are no accidental words.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I write the words and clues?
- One entry per line, the answer first, then a colon, then the clue: “Jupiter: Largest planet in the solar system”. A tab or a spaced dash ( - ) works too, so you can paste two columns from a spreadsheet.
- Why wasn't every word used?
- A word can only go in if it shares a letter with the grid. Words with rare letters (Q, Z, X) are the usual culprits. Press Shuffle to try other layouts, or add a word that bridges the gap.
- Can answers have spaces?
- Yes. “North Star” goes into the grid as NORTHSTAR, and the clue shows the letter count (9) so solvers know the length.
- How many words make a good crossword?
- Between 8 and 20. Fewer words give a sparse grid; more than 25 makes a big puzzle that needs smaller squares on the page.
- Can students solve it online?
- Not yet. Print Puzzle Maker makes printable crosswords: print the PDF, or display the preview on a board and fill it in together.