Home / Makers / Vocabulary crossword (ESL)

Vocabulary crossword maker for ESL

Build vocabulary crosswords for ESL, EFL or any language class: write clues in one language and answers in another, print with a key, or share for online practice.

At the Restaurant

NameDate

Across

3 Extra money for good service (3)
4 Sweet course at the end of a meal (7)
7 Ask for the food you want (5)
9 Cloth to wipe your mouth (6)
10 Has prongs for picking up food (4)
11 Paper that shows how much to pay (4)
12 List of dishes you can order (4)

Down

1 Person who brings your food (6)
2 Used to cut meat (5)
5 Booking a table in advance (11)
6 Water, juice or coffee (5)
8 Used for soup (5)

At the Restaurant — Answer key

Across

3 Extra money for good service (3) TIP
4 Sweet course at the end of a meal (7) DESSERT
7 Ask for the food you want (5) ORDER
9 Cloth to wipe your mouth (6) NAPKIN
10 Has prongs for picking up food (4) FORK
11 Paper that shows how much to pay (4) BILL
12 List of dishes you can order (4) MENU

Down

1 Person who brings your food (6) WAITER
2 Used to cut meat (5) KNIFE
5 Booking a table in advance (11) RESERVATION
6 Water, juice or coffee (5) DRINK
8 Used for soup (5) SPOON

Puzzle title

Words and clues 12 / 40One per line: word - clue. A colon or comma also works. Words without a clue go in the word bank.

More options: word bank, hints, layout

Letter counts after clues, e.g. (5) Shade empty squares black Word bank under the puzzle

Name and date line Print the answer key on page 2

10 × 15 grid · 12 words

Tips for a great vocabulary crossword

Vocabulary crosswords give English learners a reason to read a definition carefully and to spell a new word letter by letter. Keep clues in simple English at the learners' level, or write the clue in the students' first language and the answer in English for a translation crossword.

Accented letters are fine in the word list: they are written without accents in the grid (CAFÉ becomes CAFE), so Spanish, French and German vocabulary works too. Group words by topic — the restaurant, the airport, the doctor's office — so the clues double as a reading passage.

After solving, ask students to make their own crossword for a partner. Writing clues is an excellent productive vocabulary task, and the share link makes swapping puzzles easy.

Recommended settings

Clue in L1, answer in English
Accents are handled for you
Group words by situation
Students write clues for a partner

How to make a crossword puzzle

Type your words and clues. Enter a title, then one answer per line followed by a dash and its clue, like "Whale - Largest animal on Earth". Up to 40 words.
Let the maker build the grid. Every word is connected to the others, the squares are numbered and the Across and Down clue lists are written for you. Click New layout for another arrangement.
Choose the options. Add a word bank, show or hide letter counts, or switch to Word scramble mode to turn the same list into an unscramble worksheet.
Print, save or play. Click Print / Save PDF for the puzzle on page 1 and the answer key on page 2, download a PNG, or click Play online and Check answers.

FAQ

How do I use this vocabulary crossword (esl)?

Accented letters are fine in the word list: they are written without accents in the grid (CAFÉ becomes CAFE), so Spanish, French and German vocabulary works too. Group words by topic — the restaurant, the airport, the doctor's office — so the clues double as a reading passage.

How many words can a crossword have?

Up to 40 words, each up to 25 letters. Ten to twenty words is the best size for one printed page. The grid grows to fit, up to 25 squares wide and tall.

Why was one of my words left out?

Every word in a crossword must cross another word, so a word needs at least one letter in common with the rest of the list and a free spot where it fits. The maker tells you which words could not be connected; click New layout or add a word that shares letters with them.

How do I print the crossword with the answer key?

Click Print / Save PDF. Page 1 is the puzzle with numbered squares and the Across and Down clues; page 2 is the answer key with every square filled in. Choose "Save as PDF" in the print dialog to keep a file.

Can students solve the crossword online?

Yes. Click Play online to type into the grid, then Check to mark wrong letters in red. Copy link creates a web address that contains the whole puzzle, so students open exactly the same crossword.