ESL crosswords are a great way to review vocabulary, reinforce grammar structures, or introduce new topics in a fun, focused way. You can use them as warmers while waiting for late arrivals, as quick fillers, or assign them as homework for extra language exposure.
They’re ideal for reviewing grammar points like the past simple, present perfect, and thematic vocabulary (jobs, food, travel, etc.). And with free online tools, making your own custom ESL crossword puzzles is quick and easy.
Printable ESL Crossword Puzzles
Here are some pre-made grammar-themed crosswords.
Make Your Own ESL Crosswords with PuzzleFast
One of the easiest free tools for creating ESL crossword puzzles is PuzzleFast. It’s quick to use and generates printable crosswords from your custom vocabulary and grammar input.
How to Use PuzzleFast
- Go to PuzzleFast.com
- Select the “Crossword” radio button
- Add a title in the title field
- In the clue box, list your answers and clues using a colon to separate them, like this:
ate:the past form of eat
dug:the past form of dig
hat:something you put on your head- Click Make My Puzzle
A printable version of your ESL crossword will appear instantly. If the layout isn’t ideal, hit Remake to regenerate it.
Tips for Better ESL Crossword Puzzles
- Aim for at least 12-14 entries for a good-quality layout
- Include at least one longer word to improve the structure
- Keep definitions short and level-appropriate
- Review “across” and “down” with your students beforehand — not everyone is familiar with crossword terminology
- Encourage collaboration: let students solve in pairs or small groups
Saving as PDF
PuzzleFast doesn’t offer a direct PDF download, but you can still save your puzzle with this method:
- Click the printer icon above the puzzle
- Choose “Change Printer” in your print options
- Select “Save as PDF”
Now you have a ready-to-print ESL crossword for your lesson or homework.
Teaching Online
Crossword Labs has a very nice crossword generator which allows you to create crosswords which can be completed online. This is a nice collaborative task with one person responsible for entering the answers. Or you could assign them as a homework task.
Here’s an example of a past simple crossword.
Thank you teaching Ukrainians at the moment. They love these