Criss-Cross Puzzle Maker: 4-in-1 Generator

Four puzzle generators in one: Crossword, Word-Cross, CrossNumber and Number-Cross, with instant print-ready PDF worksheets and answers.

Give it a list of words or numbers (with optional clues) and this single tool builds a genuine interlocking puzzle grid automatically — no manual grid design needed — then lets you choose how it’s presented:

• Crossword — numbered grid with full clues and letter counts

• Word-Cross — the same grid with a word bank (grouped by length) instead of clues

• CrossNumber — clues written as LaTeX calculations, properly typeset in both the on-screen preview and the exported PDF

• Number-Cross — a numeric grid with a number bank grouped by digit count

That flexibility means one tool covers Maths (times tables, algebra, arithmetic — LaTeX rendering handles fractions, powers, roots and more), Literacy and MFL vocabulary, Science and Geography key terms, and any subject where you want pupils fitting words or numbers into a grid.

Designed by a teacher for teachers, and built for real classroom use, not just a demo:

• Generate multiple different puzzle variations from the same word list in one go, for different classes or to deter copying

• For Word-Cross and Number-Cross, the app checks that the word/number bank fits the blank grid in only one way, so pupils can’t get “stuck” on a genuinely ambiguous puzzle

• Full control over title, instructions, page size (A4 or A5), and number of puzzles per PDF

• Answers as a solved-grid image or as an Across/Down list, with control over how many fit on a page

• Three blocked-cell background options (black, grey or white) to suit your photocopier budget, plus an optional bold outline so the puzzle shape stays clear even on a plain white background

Runs entirely in your browser — open the file and it works immediately, with no installation, no sign-in, and no account. It works completely offline once open, and nothing you or your pupils type is ever uploaded anywhere, so there’s no pupil data to worry about from a GDPR perspective. Works on any school laptop, Chromebook or tablet with a modern browser.