Christmas Word Search

Print a Christmas word search in seconds. Choose a ready-made holiday word list, from an easy puzzle for young children to a challenging workshop grid, or type your own festive words. Every puzzle includes a matching answer key.

Loading printable controls…

Choose a difficulty

Easy – young kids: 10 short words such as SANTA, STAR and BELL on a 10 × 10 grid. Words run only left to right and top to bottom.
Medium – Christmas morning: 12 words like STOCKING, ORNAMENT and SLEIGH on a 13 × 13 grid. Diagonal words are added.
Medium – winter fun: snowy words like IGLOO, BLIZZARD and SLEDDING. It works all season, not just on Christmas Day.
Hard – Santa’s workshop: 15 longer words like POINSETTIA, NUTCRACKER and GINGERBREAD on a 16 × 16 grid. Words can run in all eight directions, including backward.

After you pick a list, you can still change the words, grid size and difficulty. Two-word phrases are written without spaces, like CANDYCANE and NORTHPOLE.

Make several versions

Each puzzle has a number. Press the shuffle button next to it for a new arrangement with the same words, which is useful when classmates sit side by side or you want a second round. The answer key always matches the version you print.

Classroom and party ideas

Early finishers: keep a stack of easy puzzles ready during the last week before winter break.
Party race: give everyone the same version and see who finds all the words first.
Quiet time: the hard puzzle keeps older kids and adults busy while dinner cooks.
Spelling practice: replace the list with this week’s spelling words.

Printing the answer key

The answer key highlights every hidden word. Choose Student pages to print only the puzzle, or Answer key to print only the solution for the teacher or host.

Frequently asked questions

Is every word really in the puzzle?

Yes. The generator places every word before filling the empty squares with random letters, and it checks each word’s position for the answer key. If a word can’t fit, it asks you to enlarge the grid instead of leaving the word out.