How to Design Word Search Puzzles in Microsoft Word

Word search puzzles are a great way to expose kids to educational terms.

Word search puzzles are an entertaining way to reinforce vocabulary words and proper spelling. With Microsoft Word, you can easily create a word search puzzle that is also customized to a specific topic.

Instructions

1. Type the name of your word find puzzle at the top of the page. Format the text in bold and the preferred font size. If you are using word search puzzles for several areas of study, include a subheading with the textbook chapters and pages from which the terms can be located.

2. Hit the "Enter" key twice. Write a short paragraph about your word search that includes information regarding how the words may be found, such as forward, backward, up, down or diagonal.

3. Hit the "Enter" key twice. From the menu bar, click "Insert" > "Table." Create a table with four columns.

4. Click in the top-left corner cell of the table and enter the first word that will be in your word find puzzle. Hit the "Tab" key and enter the next word.

5. Continue adding to the puzzle by hitting the "Tab" key after entering a word. The table will automatically add a new row when you reach the last cell. Hit the "Tab" key.

6. Select the entire table and choose "Design" > "Borders" > "No Border."

7. Click below the table on the page. Hit the "Enter" key once.

8. Click "Insert" > "Table." Create a table with the same number of columns as the number of letters in the longest word you would like to place in your word find. Add the same number of rows. You can add additional columns and rows as you build the puzzle.

9. Click on the "Caps Lock" key.

10. Begin entering the words in the puzzle, using the longest word on the list. Enter one letter per cell. As you enter the words in the grid, build upon existing letters from other words. As you enter a word on the grid, type an "X" in front of the word in the list of words. This helps you keep track of which words you have already placed on the grid. Continue until all the words have been placed. Add rows and columns if they are needed to balance the design of the grid.

11. Enter letters in the open spaces. Starting with "A," use the alphabet to ensure that a variety of letters are interspersed throughout the puzzle.

12. Select the entire table grid containing the word search letters. Click "Table" > "Layout" > "Autofit" > "Autofit Contents." While still on the "Layout" toolbar, click the icon to center the letters in the table cells. If you would like the puzzle centered on the page, click "Properties" then "Center" in the "Alignment" section.

13. Delete the "Xs" in front of each word in the list.

Resources

• Create Word Search Puzzles Online
• Discovery Education Puzzlemaker