Free Crossword Puzzle Maker
Create professional crossword puzzles from your own clues and answers. Perfect for classrooms, parties, or brain training. No signup required.
- 100% free
- Printable PDF
- No signup
Create your crossword
Enter one entry per line using the format: ANSWER | Clue text
Separate answer and clue with | or : or ,
Preview and play
Click a cell to select it, then type to fill. Use arrow keys to navigate.
Recently Created Crosswords
Check out crossword puzzles created by our community. Click any puzzle to play online or print.
Ready-Made Theme Collections
Don't want to create your own clues? Browse our themed collections with curated answer-clue pairs for various topics and difficulty levels.
How to make a crossword puzzle
- 1
Type your answers and clues
Enter one entry per line as ANSWER | Clue. Paste a word list you already have, or load a themed set to start from instead of writing every clue yourself.
- 2
Generate the grid
ClueGrid interlocks your words into a compact crossword grid and numbers the across and down clues for you. Words that do not fit are flagged so you can swap them.
- 3
Play, print, or share
Solve the crossword online, print it with the answer key on a separate page, or copy a link so students and friends can play it in the browser.
- 4
Download a PDF
Save a print-ready PDF for handouts, substitute-day plans, homework, or a newsletter. No watermark and no signup.
A crossword maker that uses your own clues
Most free crossword generators only hide your words in a grid. ClueGrid keeps the clue front and center: you write the answer and the clue, and the tool builds a clean, interlocking crossword puzzle with numbered across and down lists. That makes it a real fit for spelling practice, vocabulary review, or any lesson where the clue is the point.
Already have a list of terms and definitions? Paste it in using the ANSWER | Clue format and generate the grid in one click. The answer key prints on its own page, so you can hand out the puzzle to a group without giving away the solution.
Who uses ClueGrid to make crosswords
Teachers build end-of-unit reviews, sub-day activities, and spelling reinforcement. Homeschool parents turn a week of vocabulary into a Friday puzzle. ESL tutors pair short answers with plain-language clues. Hosts make name-the-guest crosswords for weddings, baby showers, and retirement parties. Newsletter editors drop a themed puzzle into the monthly issue.
Because you control the words and the clues, the difficulty is up to you. Keep answers short and clues literal for younger kids, or write cryptic-style clues for an adult crowd.
Free, no signup, runs in your browser
ClueGrid is free to use with no account, no trial, and no watermark on the printout. Everything runs in your browser, so you can make a crossword on a school laptop, a phone, or a library computer without installing anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is the crossword maker free?
Yes. ClueGrid is completely free with no signup, no trial limit, and no watermark on the printed puzzle or answer key.
Can I make a crossword with my own clues?
Yes — that is the whole point. Enter each line as ANSWER | Clue, and ClueGrid builds the grid and numbers the across and down clues automatically.
Can I print the crossword or save it as a PDF?
Yes. Every puzzle has a print page with a clean grid, the clue lists, and an answer key on a separate sheet. Use Download PDF, or choose "Save as PDF" in your browser print dialog.
Do I need to create an account?
No. There is no login. Type your clues, generate the puzzle, and print or share it right away.
Can I make a crossword without writing my own clues?
Yes. Load one of the ready-made theme collections — animals, science, back to school, and more — to start from a curated set of answer-and-clue pairs, then edit anything you like.
How many words can I put in a crossword?
There is no hard cap, but a crossword needs words that share letters to interlock. If a word cannot connect to the grid it gets skipped and flagged, so you can replace it or shorten your list.
Can students solve the crossword online?
Yes. Each puzzle gets a shareable link. Send it to a class or a friend and they can solve it in the browser — no account needed on their end either.
Can I make a crossword for a specific grade or age?
Yes. You set the words and clues, so you control the difficulty. Short answers with literal clues suit early grades; longer answers and trickier clues work for middle school and up.