To make a word search in Canva, search the templates for 'word search' and pick a grid, such as 9x9 for an easy puzzle or 15x15 for a harder one. Type your words into the grid across, down or diagonally, fill the other squares with random letters, and list the words underneath.
Canva doesn't generate word searches automatically from a list of words. You start from a template grid and place the words yourself. That takes a little longer than a puzzle generator, but you get a design that matches your brand, your classroom or your event, and it's easy to print or share.
How to make a word search in Canva
- Open Canva and search the templates for word search.
- Choose a template with the grid size you want.
- Decide your word list first, on paper or in a note: usually 8 to 10 words that fit the theme.
- Click into the grid and replace letters to spell each word across, down or diagonally.
- Mark where each word sits as you go, so you don't overwrite one with another.
- Replace all the remaining letters with random ones.
- Edit the word list below the grid to match your words.
- Change the title, colours and fonts to suit your theme.
- Download as a PDF for printing, or PNG or JPG for screens.
Pick the right grid size
| Grid | Good for | Word length |
|---|---|---|
| 9x9 | Younger children, quick activities | Short words |
| 15x15 | Older children and adults, harder puzzles | Longer words and more of them |
A 9x9 grid fills up quickly, so keep words short and use fewer of them. A 15x15 grid has room for longer words and some backwards or diagonal placements to make it trickier.
The catch: placing words by hand
Because you type every letter yourself, the two mistakes people make are overlapping words that don't share the same letter, and filler letters that accidentally spell a second copy of a word. Do it in this order to avoid both:
- Place the longest words first, as they're hardest to fit.
- Then fit shorter words around them, crossing at shared letters where you can.
- Highlight your placed words with a temporary colour so you can see them.
- Only then fill the gaps with random letters.
- Remove the highlight colour before downloading.
Finally, solve your own puzzle once, or ask someone else to. If a word can't be found, or appears twice, fix it now.
Make an answer key
Duplicate the page in Canva before removing your highlight colour. Keep that copy as the answer key, with the words still highlighted. Download both pages together, so you can hand out the puzzle and keep the answers for marking or sharing later.
Ideas for using word searches
- Classroom vocabulary practice for a topic.
- A quiet activity for events, weddings or parties.
- A newsletter or social media puzzle using words from your business.
- Holiday or seasonal activity sheets for customers' children.
Design tips
- Use a plain, clear font for the grid, ideally one where every letter is the same width so columns line up.
- Keep the grid large on the page so letters are easy to read when printed.
- Use colour for the title and border, not the grid, so letters stay readable.
- Print a test page before printing a whole batch.
Making it on your phone
Canva's word search maker is available in the mobile app too. Typing into a grid on a small screen is fiddly, so it's easier to plan and place the words on a computer and use the phone for final tweaks or sharing.
Sharing your word search
For a printed activity, download a PDF, which keeps the grid sharp at any size. For a social post or a newsletter, download a PNG and post the puzzle one day and the answer key a day or two later, which gives people a reason to come back. If you're sharing with a class or group online, Canva's share link lets people view it without downloading anything.
Word search ideas by theme
- Seasonal: holiday, summer or back-to-school words for activity sheets.
- Topic vocabulary: key terms from a lesson, course module or workshop.
- Brand words: your product names and services, for a light-hearted social post.
- Event words: names, places and in-jokes for a wedding, party or team day.
Choose the theme before the grid size, because the length of your words decides whether a 9x9 grid is enough. A list full of long words almost always needs the larger grid.
Word searches as a marketing idea
A themed word search is a simple, friendly piece of content for a small business. Fill it with words from your industry, your products or a season, and add your logo and website at the bottom. It works well in a newsletter, as a printable for customers' children, or as a quick social post. Keep it short and easy enough that people finish it, because a finished puzzle feels good and an abandoned one doesn't.
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My verdict
Start from a Canva word search template, pick 9x9 for easy or 15x15 for hard, and place your longest words first before filling the gaps. Highlight words while you work, duplicate the page as an answer key, then download as a PDF for printing. It's a manual job, but you get a puzzle that looks exactly how you want. For more quick design jobs, see this graphics tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can Canva make a word search automatically?
No. Canva's word search maker is template-based, so you place the words yourself.
What grid sizes does Canva offer for word searches?
Templates include 9x9 for easier puzzles and 15x15 for harder ones.
How do I make an answer key in Canva?
Duplicate the page before removing your highlights, and keep that copy as the key.
How do I print a Canva word search?
Download it as a PDF and print a test page first.
Can I make a word search in the Canva app?
Yes, but it's easier to place words on a computer.
How many words should a word search have?
Around 8 to 10 for a 9x9 grid, and more for a 15x15 grid.
