Free word search maker and printables

Sports Word Search

Sports names and game terms hidden in a grid, to print for a class or team or play online.

This sports word search is a free puzzle maker that builds a sports word search grid in your web browser. Pick a topic such as Sports, Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Hockey or Olympic sports, choose a grid size and difficulty, and the tool hides the words for you. There is no sign-up or download, and nothing you create is uploaded. The page opens with a 15×15 Medium puzzle of 18 sports names, so you can start solving straight away. You can play online, print copies for a class or team, or build a puzzle from your own words. Each new puzzle has a different arrangement, so you can make as many as you need.
  1. Choose a topic from the Sports group: Sports, Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Hockey or Olympic sports.
  2. Set the Grid size. The page starts at 15×15.
  3. Set the Number of words. It starts at a good number for the grid you chose.
  4. Pick a Difficulty level. Read the hint line under it to see which directions the words run.
  5. To use your own list, choose ‘My own words’ and type your words (they replace the topic’s list).
  6. Solve the puzzle by clicking or tapping the first letter of a word, then its last letter. Press ‘Hint’ if you get stuck, or ‘Show answers’ to outline every word.
  7. Open the Print panel, set the copies, paper size and answer keys, then press one of the print buttons.
  8. Press ‘Next puzzle’ to get a new grid with the same settings.

With a mouse you can also drag across the letters. On the keyboard, the arrow keys move and Enter or Space marks a letter. The game is saved in your browser, so reloading the page continues it. To share the exact puzzle, use ‘Copy link’. It holds all your settings and a seed, so the link opens the same grid again.

What sports topics are there?

The Sports group has seven topics: Sports (50 sport names), Football (48 terms), Baseball (52), Basketball (52), Soccer (50), Hockey (53) and Olympic sports (49). The general Sports list covers many different games, which suits a mixed group. The single-sport lists keep every word connected to one game.

The Football topic includes terms such as Touchdown, Quarterback and Field goal. Multi-word terms are hidden without their spaces, so Field goal appears in the grid as FIELDGOAL and Home run as HOMERUN. Look for the word joined together, not the two words separated by a gap.

Yes. Choose Football and the tool picks terms at random from this list (18 on a 15×15 grid), so each new puzzle is different:

Football (48 words): Touchdown, Quarterback, Receiver, Linebacker, Tackle, Fumble, Punt, Kickoff, Field goal, End zone, Helmet, Huddle, Blitz, Interception, Offense, Defense, Lineman, Halfback, Fullback, Tight end, Safety, Cornerback, Snap, Pass, Scrimmage, Down, Yard line, Referee, Penalty, Flag, Sack, Pigskin, Goalpost, Stadium, Playbook, Overtime, Halftime, Gridiron, Tailgate, Cleats, Shoulder pads, Punter, Kicker, Center, Guard, Hail Mary, Extra point, Playoffs.

For a baseball word search, choose Baseball:

Baseball (52 words): Pitcher, Catcher, Batter, Shortstop, Outfield, Infield, Home run, Strike, Ball, Base, Bat, Glove, Mitt, Inning, Umpire, Dugout, Bullpen, Diamond, Home plate, Pitch, Fastball, Curveball, Slider, Bunt, Steal, Double play, Grand slam, Triple, Single, Double, Walk, Strikeout, Foul ball, Fly ball, Ground ball, Pop fly, Mound, Cleats, Helmet, Scoreboard, Stadium, Peanuts, Batting average, Shutout, No hitter, Rally, First base, Second base, Third base, Left field, Right field, Center field.

The grid follows the same settings as any other topic, so you can change the size, number of words and difficulty to suit your players.

The difficulty level decides how the words are laid out. On Easy, words run only left to right and top to bottom, and they never cross. Medium adds diagonals going down-right and up-right, but no backwards words. Hard uses all eight directions, including backwards, and words may cross. Expert uses all eight directions, tries crossings first, and builds the filler letters from the hidden words, so the grid looks more uniform.

Several solving methods work on every topic:

  • If a word has an unusual letter (Q, X, Z, J or K), scan for that letter first.
  • Look for double letters such as OO, LL or SS.
  • Take the first letter of a word and check all eight neighbouring squares for its second letter.
  • Find the longest words first, then cross each one off as you go.
  • On Hard and Expert, also read backwards and upwards.

Frequently asked questions

Can I print it?

Yes. Open the Print panel and choose the number of copies, from 1 to 20. Each copy has a different arrangement. Pick Letter or A4 paper, then choose whether answer keys print four or one per page. In the print window, choose ‘Save as PDF’ if you want a file.

Does it work on a phone or tablet?

Yes. Tap the first letter of a word and then its last letter. The grid shrinks to fit the screen; a smaller grid gives bigger letters.

Is it free?

Yes. It runs in your web browser, is free, and needs no sign-up or download. Nothing is uploaded, and your own words stay in the browser.

Can I use my own words?

Yes. Choose ‘My own words’ and type your words; they replace the topic’s list. The words stay in your browser. If you copy a link that includes them, they sit after the # sign, which browsers do not send to a server.

Are the answers included?

Yes. While you play, ‘Show answers’ outlines every word. Answer keys print after the puzzles, with each word outlined.

Will I get the same puzzle again?

If you press ‘Copy link’, the address holds all your settings and a seed, so it opens the same puzzle. Pressing ‘Next puzzle’ makes a new grid with the same settings instead.