Word Search and Crossword Maker

A real example made with Madlen

Choose the topic and Key Stage, and Madlen picks the words and builds a word search, crossword or scramble.

Regions of Africa and Asia

English
Word search
10 words

Show answer key

MONSOONEQUATORQIULRNMVTOIFJYMUNVRFIFEVLZAQJMUEVLUIQYGQXSSHIDQFRFRCGSAVANNAIUCWOLAOJMCKDZQCARQZSNLNIJICEGCLCLIMATETRTTVPQIFFUUDOLHIESYNNTDAOPPTDYANGJGKYCVEEGXZGDZECCJFSPOPULATIONNGVDZFVBRCWQSZTATCODINKDEJSDESERTGXPUCGDBUYIEAFG

Find the words for these clues

The total number of people living in a particular area or country. POPULATION
An unfair difference in wealth, housing, or opportunities between people. INEQUALITY
A very large landmass on Earth, such as Africa or Asia. CONTINENT
An enormous urban settlement with more than ten million inhabitants. MEGACITY
The average pattern of weather in a place over many years. CLIMATE
A seasonal wind in Southern Asia that brings heavy summer rain. MONSOON
An imaginary line around the middle of the Earth where it is usually warm. EQUATOR
A grassy plain with scattered trees, commonly found in parts of Africa. SAVANNA
A very dry landscape that receives very little rainfall each year. DESERT
Describing countryside areas rather than busy towns or cities. RURAL

What you can do

Three puzzle types

Choose a word search, a crossword or scrambled letters. For a word search you set the grid to 10x10, 15x15 or 20x20 and decide whether words can run diagonally.

Clues instead of words

A word search can show clues in place of the word list. Pupils work out each word first and then find it in the grid, which turns the puzzle into a check on key vocabulary.

Ready to print

Download a pupil copy or the answer key as PDF or Word. You can adjust the layout and show the puzzle on the interactive whiteboard.

How it works

1
Choose Key Stage, subject and topic

Start from the curriculum, your own file or a short prompt.
2
Set up the puzzle

Pick the puzzle type, the number of words and, for a word search, the grid size.
3
Print and use

Download the pupil copy and the answer key, or show it on the whiteboard.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a word search?

A word search hides a topic’s words in a grid of letters, across, down and optionally diagonally, with random letters in the empty squares. In Madlen you choose the topic and the number of words. It picks the words, builds the grid and prepares the answer key.

What is the difference between a crossword and a word search?

In a word search pupils find given words in a grid. In a crossword they work out each word from a clue and write it into crossing boxes. Crosswords practise meaning, while word searches practise spelling and recognition.

How can I use word puzzles in lessons?

Puzzles make quick starters and plenaries that bring a topic’s key vocabulary back. A crossword or a word search with clues checks that pupils know what the words mean, not only how they are spelt. In MFL you can set the CEFR level of the words.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Every puzzle comes with an answer key. Download the pupil copy and the answer key separately as PDF or Word.

How do I start using Madlen?

Sign in to Madlen with your Google account to start on the free plan, which opens with 14 days of Pro. The Madlen pricing page shows what the free and paid plans include.