seasonal · word search · free printable
Free Printable Christmas Word Search
About the calmest thing you can hand a room of excited children in December.
Made by the PaperCarnival team · Updated
32 hidden words · answer key included · US Letter & A4
A word search is the calmest thing you can hand a room full of excited children in December. Gingerbread and peppermint, a nutcracker and a sleigh: all thirty two words are ones every child in the room already knows, hidden in an evergreen grid that prints cleanly in black and white or in full color.
If you would rather make it your own, open the puzzle in the generator and swap in your own words: your family’s traditions, a class spelling list, or the names of everyone at the table. You can change the grid size, make the puzzle easier by hiding words across and down only, or make it genuinely hard by allowing backwards words.
The hidden words
Every word in the puzzle, or edit the list in the generator
- Snowflake
- Ornament
- Stocking
- Wreath
- Reindeer
- Sleigh
- Mistletoe
- Gingerbread
- Carol
- Tinsel
- Holly
- Snowman
- Garland
- Chimney
- Candle
- Nutcracker
- Icicle
- Peppermint
- Ribbon
- Cocoa
- Angel
- Bells
- Cookies
- Present
- Sled
- Star
- Frost
- Evergreen
- Wrapping
- Twinkle
- Cheer
- Merry
Ways to use it
Quiet-corner puzzle
Hand out one sheet each while dinner finishes. Every word runs across, down, or diagonally, so it stays gentle enough for a full table.
Race the timer
Set five minutes and see who finds the most. The word list under the grid keeps everyone hunting for the same twenty words.
Team hunt
Split the room into pairs and give each pair one sheet. Talking it out makes it far easier for younger players.
Take-home favor
Print a stack, tuck one into each party bag, and keep the answer key for yourself.
Questions
How hard is the puzzle?
The default setting hides words across, down, and diagonally in a nineteen square grid, which is what thirty two words need. In the generator you can drop to across and down only for younger children, or add backwards words to make it much harder.
Can I use this in my classroom?
Yes, print a class set at no cost. Teachers use it as a December warm-up, an early-finisher activity, or a party-day quiet break.