Christmas Word Search
This christmas word search printable pack has six free puzzles, two each for ages 5 to 7, 7 to 9 and 9 and up, with an answer key at the back. Print the whole set as one PDF or only the level you need. Every puzzle has a word list with tick boxes. The easy ones keep every word across or down, so a young reader can finish without help. Use them for a quiet afternoon, a classroom party or a long car ride.
Pick the right Christmas word search printable
These printable christmas word search puzzles are sorted by level, and each level changes the grid, the word count and the directions the words can run. Easy puzzles have words that go across and down only. Medium puzzles add diagonals that run forward. Hard puzzles use every direction, including backwards, which is the part that trips up most people.
| Puzzle | Level | Grid and words | Directions | Some of the words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Morning | Easy, ages 5 to 7 | 10 x 10, 8 words | Across and down | Santa, tree, star, gift |
| Christmas Treats | Easy, ages 5 to 7 | 10 x 10, 8 words | Across and down | Cookie, candy, cocoa, fudge |
| Santa and the Reindeer | Medium, ages 7 to 9 | 12 x 12, 12 words | Across, down, diagonal forward | Rudolph, Dasher, Blitzen, sleigh |
| Decorating Day | Medium, ages 7 to 9 | 12 x 12, 12 words | Across, down, diagonal forward | Ornament, garland, tinsel, mistletoe |
| Christmas Carols | Hard, ages 9 and up | 15 x 15, 18 words | Any direction | Jingle, silent, herald, partridge |
| The Christmas Story | Hard, ages 9 and up | 15 x 15, 18 words | Any direction | Bethlehem, manger, shepherds, myrrh |
The age bands are my judgment, so move a child up or down a level if they find a sheet too easy or too hard. Print Your Story uses similar bands of 5 to 7, 7 to 9 and 9 to 12 for its three Christmas puzzles, and Bible Games Central runs its set from ages 6 to 14. I checked every puzzle with a script, so each word on the list appears exactly once in the grid.
How to solve a Christmas word search
Most people read the grid line by line and hope. A few habits work better. DLTK explains that words can run horizontal, vertical or diagonal, frontward or backward, so a hard puzzle needs you to look in all eight directions.
- Pick the longest word first. A word like Bethlehem or frankincense has few places to hide.
- Scan for its first letter, then check the letters around it in each direction.
- Circle each word as you find it and tick it off the list. Play Party Plan notes that circling found words can help you spot the rest.
- Look for odd letters. J shows up in Jingle and Joy on the carols sheet and in Joseph and Jesus on the story sheet, so a lone J is a good place to start.
- On the hard sheets, read each row both ways and read the columns upward as well.
A ruler or an index card laid under a row helps a young child keep their place. Slide it down one row at a time instead of letting their eyes wander across the whole grid.
Help early readers with the easy puzzles
The two easy puzzles are made for children who are just starting to read. The grid is only 10 by 10, the letters are large and all eight words run across or down. Read the word list out loud first and let your child point to the first letter of each word. Then they look for that letter in the grid and follow it along.
Print Your Story lists letter recognition, spelling and focus as skills a word search builds. Keep the first session to about 10 minutes. Stop when the fun does. Find one word together, and your child may well want to try the next one alone.
Christmas holiday word search ideas for parties and car rides
A christmas holiday word search works as a game as well as a quiet activity. Play Party Plan suggests a timed race, and a team relay where runners dash up to find words. Everyday Chaos and Calm lists a screen free car ride activity with a pencil and a clipboard, a calming activity and a way to start a talk about the meaning of Christmas.
- Timed race: Give everyone the same puzzle and a pencil. The first person to find all the words wins.
- Team relay: Tape one puzzle to a wall. Each team member runs up, circles one word and tags the next player.
- Quiet hour: Put a puzzle and a pencil at each seat after the presents are open.
- Car ride: Clip a puzzle to a clipboard. A pencil works better than a pen on a bumpy road.
- Classroom party: Print the easy and medium sheets, and let children choose.
For more things to do with the whole family, see our family Christmas games and Christmas get together ideas. If you want a quiet craft to go with the puzzles, try our Christmas tree drawing.
How to print the Christmas word search printable
The pages are US Letter size, 8.5 by 11 inches. A christmas printable word search keeps its shape best at actual size. Whichever christmas word search to print you choose, pick actual size and not fit to page. Regular paper and black ink are fine. The cover page has the rules, so print it once and keep it with the pack.
Free download: Get all 6 Christmas word search puzzles and the answer key as one PDF
Print pages 2 to 7 for the puzzles. Pages 8 to 10 are the answer key, with the found words colored in, so print those separately for the grown up or the teacher. Slide a puzzle into a clear sleeve and use a dry erase marker, and you can reuse it all season.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas word searches
Are these free printable Christmas word search puzzles?
Yes. The whole pack is a free PDF for home and classroom use. Please do not sell it or post the file on another site.
Do the puzzles come with answers?
Yes. Pages 8 to 10 of the PDF are the answer key, with every word colored in on the grid.
What age is a Christmas word search for?
The easy puzzles suit ages 5 to 7, the medium ones ages 7 to 9 and the hard ones ages 9 and up. These are my bands, so move up or down to suit your child.
How do I make a Christmas word search easier?
Pick an easy sheet, read the word list out loud and let your child use a finger or an index card to follow each row. Find one word together first.
How do I make a Christmas word search harder?
Use the hard sheets, where words run in all eight directions, and set a timer. You can also cover the word list and play from memory.
How many words are in each puzzle?
Each easy puzzle has 8 words, each medium puzzle has 12 words and each hard puzzle has 18 words.
Can I use these Christmas word searches for a party or classroom?
Yes. Print one per child for a classroom party, or tape one to a wall for a team relay. Keep the answer key pages for the host.
If I were choosing for a family table, I would print one easy and one hard puzzle and let the age gap sort itself out. I can see how much a seven year old would enjoy beating a parent on the easy sheet. Print the pack, find a pencil and let the hunt begin.
