How to use the word scramble maker
- Type your words, one per line, up to 40. Use letters only, from 2 to 20 letters each. The eight shown are examples.
- Choose capital letters, whether to show the number of letters, and whether to print answer key pages.
- Check the preview. Press the button to scramble again, or keep the puzzle code to get the same scramble later.
- Press Download PDF or Print. Solvers write each word on the line beside its scramble.
How the scramble is made
Each word is shuffled letter by letter with a fair shuffle (Fisher and Yates) driven by the puzzle code. The shuffle is repeated, if needed, until the result is different from the original word, so no scramble gives the answer away. The same words and the same code always give the same scramble, which lets you rebuild a page and its answer key later.
A word made of one repeated letter, such as aaa, has only one arrangement, so it cannot be scrambled. The page tells you when that happens. Words with two letters, such as to, always swap. Duplicate words are refused so every number belongs to one answer.
Longer words give more possible arrangements, so a ten letter word is harder to solve than a five letter one, and words with repeated letters have fewer different arrangements than words with all different letters. For young children, keep to short words of 4 to 6 letters and show the number of letters. For older groups, use longer words and leave the length hint off.
Ideas for using it
Use vocabulary from a lesson, spelling words for the week, names of animals, or terms for a party game. Fewer letters suit younger children, and longer words make a harder puzzle. Show the number of letters to make it easier, or hide it for a challenge. The numbered list makes it simple to go over answers as a group.
The answer key is printed on its own pages, so you can hand out the puzzle and keep the key. For spelling practice, try the Spelling Test Template. For other puzzles, use the Word Search Maker, the Cryptogram Maker and the Cloze Test Generator.
Assumptions and limits
- The pages print on US Letter paper in portrait orientation, 15 words down each column.
- Words may contain letters only. Spaces, digits and hyphens are not accepted.
- The scramble depends on the words and the puzzle code, and nothing else.
- Nothing you type is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my own word scramble?
Type your words one per line and the page scrambles each one. Print the puzzle and the answer key, and solvers write the real word beside each scramble.
Can I get the same scramble again?
Yes. Keep the same words and the same puzzle code. A new code gives a different scramble.
Why can a word not be scrambled?
If every letter is the same, such as aaa, there is only one arrangement. The page prints it as is and tells you.
How many words can I use?
Up to 40 words, each from 2 to 20 letters. Thirty words fit on a page, and the rest go onto the next page.