About Word Search Zoo

Word Search Zoo is a small independent project run by Milo Finch, with one simple mission: make word searches that work both ways, on the screen and on paper, and keep every puzzle free.

There is no big company behind this site. One person picks every theme, curates every word list and reads every message that arrives through the contact form. That is exactly why the puzzles stay free, unwatermarked and pleasant to use.

How a puzzle is made

Every puzzle starts as a themed word list. The grid is generated by the site's own deterministic engine, which hides the words across, down and diagonally, forwards and backwards, and the exact same grid drives the three things you see: the playable board on the page, the printable PDF and the solution sheet. Because all three come from one source, they can never disagree.

The word lists are checked by hand before a puzzle goes live: no duplicate words, no word hidden inside another, nothing that does not belong to the theme. Every puzzle is solved once on screen and once on paper before it is published.

Spanish puzzles are built in Spanish

Each Spanish puzzle is generated from its own Spanish word list, never translated from the English grid. Accents come off the board the way Spanish word searches actually work (LEÓN plays as LEON) and the letter Ñ stays on the board as a real letter, because ARAÑA without its Ñ is simply a different word.

Who is this site for?

Kids, families, teachers and anyone who likes a good word hunt. Every puzzle can be played on the page or printed as a free PDF with a separate solution sheet, and everything here is free for personal and classroom use (see our licensing policy). Teachers can find classroom notes on our for teachers page.

Word Search Zoo is paid for by ads. There are no accounts, no newsletter and nothing to buy.

Last updated: July 2026.