How to Solve a Word Search for Kids

A word search hides words from a list inside a letter grid. Look across rows, down columns and along diagonals. A word may read forwards or backwards; trace every letter in one straight line.

Try a five-by-five grid

Find CAT, DOG and SUN. Start at the top-left C and read right to A, then T. DOG begins at the right end of the second row: follow that column down to O and G. Can you find SUN reading backwards?

Find CAT, DOG and SUN

C	A	T	X	Q
M	N	P	R	D
L	I	V	E	O
H	B	W	S	G
N	U	S	K	Z

Show the worked answer

Worked answer: three paths

C	A	T	X	Q
M	N	P	R	D
L	I	V	E	O
H	B	W	S	G
N	U	S	K	Z

CAT crosses the first row from left to right. DOG runs down the last column from row 2 to row 4. SUN runs backwards along row 5, starting at the S in column 3 and ending at the N in column 1.

Try a full puzzle

Read one word from the list, then scan the grid in straight lines in both directions.
On a published puzzle page, click a word in the list to highlight its location. This shows one word at a time; it does not check or score a selection you made in the grid.
The puzzle's Print button prints the grid and word list on the same page with navigation hidden. There is no separate answer-key route.

Practice with the Animals Word Search or browse the animal word searches.