How to Make a Crossword Puzzle Using My Own Vocabulary Words

Crossword puzzles are fun, especially when you make them yourself.

Crossword puzzles are a lot of fun to make and solve. You can find them all over the web or in virtually any newspaper. The problem is that crossword puzzles are known for being challenging and requiring a lot of outside knowledge that most people just don't possess. There are a few simple online tools however, that can help you to make your own crossword puzzles. These crosswords are easy to make, entertaining to solve and great for sharing or challenging all of your friends. They also make good study guides for school vocabulary tests.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access
• Dictionary
• Vocabulary words

Instructions

Making A Crossword

1. Compile a list of vocabulary words. Once you have your list, look up all of their definitions in a reliable dictionary.

2. Come up with clues for each of your vocabulary words. Each clue should be the definition, synonym or an example of one of your vocabulary words.

3. Go online to http://www.puzzle-maker.com/CW/. (See reference 1) This website has an instant, free puzzle maker that is very easy to use.

4. Type your words and clues into the box on the webpage that says, "Enter your words and clues here." Follow the instructions on the page that say, "Separate each word and its clue with a slash "/" character. Press the Enter key once after each clue, except for the last clue." Add a title and determine the puzzle's size by specifying how many rows and columns you would like. (See Reference 1)

5. Click the button on the bottom middle of the page that says "Create Puzzle." The puzzle is now finished and ready to be solved. The website provides you with a blank copy of the puzzle and a complete answer key for reference. You can then print off copies of your crossword puzzle to share and practice with.

Tips & Warnings

• Crossword puzzles can help you study for school vocabulary tests. By using words that you are assigned to learn for school, you get a chance to learn definitions and get extra practice at reciting and spelling the words. If you don't have assigned vocabulary words to use, try using SAT words to boost your vocabulary and practice for standardized testing.

• Try using shorter words or words of similar length for a more polished finished look. Short words make the puzzle more compact and make the final product look more like something right out of the newspaper.

• To make solving the puzzle more of a challenge, choose an alternate definition for some words rather than the definition most commonly associated with the word.

References

• Instant Online Crossword Puzzle Maker