How to play word search.
A word search hides a list of words in a grid of letters. Your job is to find each complete word in one straight line. Here are the rules, a few practical solving strategies, and the controls for playing on Sprig & Seek.
The basic rules.
Check the word list, then find each word from its first letter to its last. A word follows a straight horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line. It does not turn corners or skip letters. Words can cross and share letters. Whether backwards words are allowed depends on the difficulty.
| Difficulty | Words | Grid | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 15 | 14 × 14 | Right and down |
| Medium | 20 | 16 × 16 | Forward and diagonal |
| Hard | 25 | 18 × 18 | All eight, including backwards |
These sizes and counts describe our theme puzzles. A custom puzzle can have a different word count and may grow to fit the words.
A simple example.
For PIANO, find a P and check the next letters in the allowed directions: I, A, N, O. If the sequence breaks, try another direction or another P. On Hard, you might read O, N, A, I, P while scanning; select the same straight line from either end to mark it.
Five ways to solve without rushing.
- Start with a distinctive letter.Look for letters such as Q, X, or Z when they occur in your list. For a word like RHYTHM, the Y can be a useful landmark. Then check whether the surrounding letters fit.
- Scan in a consistent order.Move across one row at a time, then down the columns. On Medium and Hard, add diagonal checks. A regular scan helps you avoid revisiting the same patch of letters.
- Use longer words as anchors.A long word may have a recognizable ending such as ING. Once it is found, crossing letters can help you notice other words nearby.
- Check the entire word.Similar starts can be misleading. Confirm every letter and keep your selection straight. On Hard, remember to check the reverse order too.
- Return to the list.Cross off completed words on paper, or use the online progress marks. If you are stuck, pick one remaining word and search only for it for a moment.
Play with a mouse or touchscreen.
Drag from the first letter to the last, or tap the two endpoints. You can select in either direction. The full sequence must match one of the listed words. A correct find lights up automatically; an unlisted word does not count toward the puzzle.
Keyboard controls.
Tab into the letter grid. Use the arrow keys to move, press Space to choose a starting cell, move to the last cell, then press Enter to finish. Escape clears an unfinished selection. Other controls can be reached with Tab.
Hints, progress, and the answer key.
Hint highlights the starting letter of a remaining word. Check progress reports how many listed words you have found. Show answers reveals all the placed words after a confirmation; revealing does not add them to your found count. You can hide the answers and continue.
Take the puzzle off-screen.
Select Print below an online grid, include an answer key if you want one, and open the worksheet preview. Choose Print / Save PDF to use your browser’s print dialog. Or download six ready-made printable puzzles to start without generating a new one.
Choose a theme and try it.
For your own vocabulary or a personalized activity, use the free word search maker. Beginners can start with shorter words on Easy, then move to diagonal and backwards words when ready.