Word search for kids
10 free word searches to print. Each PDF has the answer key on page 2. Easy ones come first.
Farm animals word search
Easy, ages 5 to 7
Pets word search
Easy, ages 5 to 7
Colors word search
Easy, ages 5 to 7
Garden word search
Easy, ages 5 to 7
Zoo animals word search
Medium, ages 7 to 9
Dinosaur word search
Medium, ages 7 to 9
Ocean animals word search
Medium, ages 7 to 9
Weather word search
Medium, ages 7 to 9
Back to school word search
Hard, ages 9 and up
Transportation word search
Hard, ages 9 and up
Make a word search with your own words
Teachers can type a class word list, such as this week's spelling words, and print a copy for everyone.
About these word searches
Each puzzle has a theme, like farm animals, the ocean or the weather, with a word list we wrote by hand. A picture from our coloring library sits beside the list, to color once every word is found.
Easy puzzles have an 8 by 8 grid with words across and down only. Medium puzzles are 12 by 12 and add words on a slant. Hard puzzles are 15 by 15, and some words run backwards.
They are free for personal and classroom use. Read the license.
Printing and playing tips
- Print at 100% or choose Fit to page. The puzzle fills a Letter or A4 sheet inside half-inch margins.
- Younger kids can run a finger along each row first, then circle a word once they spot it.
- Keep the answer key for yourself. It is the second page of the PDF.
Which ages they suit
Easy puzzles such as the farm animals word search suit ages 5 to 7. Their words only run across and down.
Medium puzzles such as the zoo animals word search suit ages 7 to 9, with words on a slant as well.
Hard puzzles such as the back to school word search suit ages 9 and up. Words run every way, including backwards.
Questions and answers
Are these word searches free?
Yes. Print as many copies as you like for home or a classroom. There is no sign-up.
What age is a word search good for?
Most kids can try one once they read simple words, at about age 5. Start with the easy puzzles, where words only run across and down.
Where is the answer key?
Tap Show answer key under a puzzle, or download its PDF. The key is the second page, with every word marked.
Can I make a word search with my own words?
Yes. The word search maker takes your own list, such as this week's spelling words, and draws a new puzzle to print. Open the word search maker
Do the puzzles change when I print them again?
No. Each puzzle stays the same, so a whole class works on the same page and one answer key fits all.