Free tool
Word Search with Hidden Message Maker
Type your words and a secret message. When all the words are found, the letters left in the grid spell your message. Download a printable PDF with the solution. No account needed.
The grid size is chosen for you, so that the unused letters spell your message exactly.
Type your message and your words, then click Generate word search. Your grid appears here, ready to download as a PDF.
Free sample for personal use. Commercial rights come with the PRO and EXPERT plans.
How to make a hidden message word search in 4 steps
- Write your message. A birthday wish, a clue, a quote or the answer to a riddle, from 3 to 150 letters.
- Type your words. One word per line, 3 letters or more, up to 20 words.
- Pick the level. Easy hides the words across and down, Medium adds diagonals, Hard uses all 8 directions.
- Print it. Download the PDF: the puzzle is on page 1 and the solution on page 2.
How the hidden message is built
In a classic word search, the squares around the words are filled with random letters. Here, they are filled with the letters of your message, in order. The solver finds and crosses out all the words, then reads the remaining letters from left to right and from top to bottom.
- The grid size is chosen for you, so that the words and the message fill it exactly.
- Every letter belongs to a word or to the message: there are no extra letters.
- Each word can be found only once in the grid.
Tips for a good hidden message puzzle
- If the tool asks for more letters, add a name, a date written in words or one more short word to your message.
- A longer message leaves more space between the words, which makes them easier to place.
- Avoid words that are contained in other words of your list: the tool leaves them out, because they could be found twice.
- Choose words on the same theme as your message, such as party words for a birthday wish.
- Click Generate new grid to get another layout with the same words and message.
Ideas for using a secret message
- A birthday or greeting card with a personal wish to discover.
- A classroom activity where the message is the answer to a question from the lesson.
- A treasure hunt or party game where the message is the next clue.
- An announcement for family or friends, revealed only when the puzzle is solved.
Want to publish your own puzzle book?
This free tool creates one puzzle at a time. LogikLand also builds complete word search books for Amazon KDP: themed word categories, 4 difficulty levels, a solutions section, and print-ready pages in 8.5 x 11 or 6 x 9 inches, exported as PDF or editable PPTX.
Hidden message word search maker: frequently asked questions
How do I make a word search with a hidden message?
Type your secret message and your list of words in the tool above, one word per line, choose the difficulty and click Generate word search. LogikLand hides your words in a grid and uses your message to fill every other square. You can then download a PDF with the solution on a second page.
How does the hidden message work?
Once all the words are found, the letters that belong to no word, read from left to right and from top to bottom, spell your message. There are no random filler letters: every letter of the grid belongs to a word or to the message.
Why does the tool ask me to add letters to my message?
The words and the message must fill the grid exactly, with no square left over. When your message is too short for your word list, or when no grid has the right number of squares, the tool tells you how many letters to add. Adding a name or one more word to the message is usually enough.
Is this hidden message word search maker free?
Yes. The tool on this page is free and needs no account. It creates one puzzle at a time with up to 20 words. The PDF carries a small LogikLand footer and is for personal use.
How long can the hidden message be?
From 3 to 150 letters. Spaces, punctuation and numbers are ignored, accents are removed and letters are shown in capitals.
Can I choose the grid size?
No. The grid size is chosen automatically from the number of letters in your words and your message, up to 20 x 20. The grid can be a rectangle, wider than it is tall, so that everything fits exactly.
What does the PDF contain?
Page 1 has the grid, the list of words to find, a short instruction and one blank per letter of the message, grouped by word, for the solver to fill in. Page 2 has the solution, with the words highlighted and the message written out.
Can I sell the puzzles I create?
The free samples from this page are for personal use. Commercial rights, which you need to publish and sell books on Amazon KDP, Etsy or your own website, come with the PRO and EXPERT plans.
Related: All printable puzzles | Free word search maker | Challenging word search printable | Crossword puzzle maker | Word search book guide
Last updated: October 6, 2026