Crossword Puzzle Generator
NewGenerate a crossword puzzle grid with numbered across/down clues from your own word + clue list, with words automatically interlocked at shared letters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I format my word list?
Enter one entry per line in the format "WORD | Clue text" — for example "ASTRO | Framework this site is built with". The word is automatically uppercased and stripped of non-letter characters; the text after the pipe becomes that word's clue.
How does the generator decide where to place each word?
The longest word is placed first, anchored across the center of the grid. Every subsequent word is placed by searching for a shared letter with an already-placed word and positioning it perpendicular to that word at the matching letter — this is what creates the classic interlocking crossword look rather than a disconnected word list.
What happens if a word can't be connected to any other word?
If a word shares no letter in common with any already-placed word (or every attempted intersection would conflict with existing letters), it's skipped and listed under "Could not intersect" — try choosing words that share more common letters, or add a connecting word that bridges two otherwise-unrelated entries.
What do the small numbers in the grid mean?
Each numbered cell marks the starting square of one or more words — the same numbering convention used in traditional printed crosswords, where the clue list below references "1 Across," "2 Down," and so on by matching each clue to its starting cell's number.