Jumble Crossword
Every clue is a scrambled word. Unscramble it and write it into the grid. Play here or print it.
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A jumble crossword is a crossword puzzle where each clue is a scrambled word. This jumble crossword puzzle runs in your browser, so you can play it on screen or print it. It is free, needs no account, and works on phones, tablets and computers.
Each clue shows the letters of one answer in a jumbled order, with the letter count in brackets. You unscramble the clue and write the word into the grid. Words cross each other, so a letter you fill in for one word also helps you solve the word it crosses.
Pressing New puzzle or changing a setting builds a fresh grid. You can choose a topic, the number of words and the difficulty, so the puzzle can suit a quick game or a longer session.
How to play a jumble crossword
- Choose a Topic, such as Animals, Food or Space, or keep Mixed topics.
- Pick a Words count: 6, 8, 10 or 12.
- Set the Word length to Easy, Medium or Hard. Changing any setting makes a new puzzle.
- Click a clue to jump to the first empty square of that word, or click a square and start typing.
- Type each letter. The cursor moves to the next square of the same word. Click the same square again, or press the space bar, to switch between across and down.
- Press Check to mark wrong letters in red. If you are stuck, use Show letter for the selected square or Show word for the whole word.
- Watch the Letters filled counter. When every letter is right, you will see “Solved! Every word is in the right place.”
Arrow keys move around the grid, and Backspace clears a square. Show all fills the grid and Clear grid empties it. Copy link saves a link that reopens this exact puzzle.
To print, choose Print / Save PDF for the puzzle and an answer page, or Print answer key only for the answers alone. Open Print settings to choose Letter or A4 paper. The puzzle code is printed at the bottom so you can reopen the puzzle later.
What is a jumble crossword?
A jumble crossword is a standard crossword grid in which every clue is a scrambled word instead of a definition. Each answer is still a word that fits into the squares, so the solver’s job is to find the word first and then place it. This is different from the word scramble game, which has no grid and asks you to unscramble one word at a time against a timer.
Which words and topics does the puzzle use?
Pick Mixed topics for a general puzzle or a single topic such as Animals, Space or Weather. Only plain single words are used. Easy puzzles use words of 4 to 6 letters, Medium 5 to 8 letters and Hard 7 to 11 letters. Every word crosses at least one other word, and in nearly every puzzle all of the words you asked for fit; in the rare case that they do not, the grid holds fewer words.
How do jumble crossword clues work?
Each clue gives the answer’s letters in a random order, followed by the number of letters in brackets. For example, EIFWDLLI (8) unscrambles to WILDLIFE, and AOBBOM (6) unscrambles to BAMBOO. Clues are listed under Across and Down with the same numbers as the squares in the grid.
The crossing squares do the rest of the work. When two words share a square, the letter there must match in both. A scramble that could form two different words can usually be settled by the letters that cross it. Starting with the longest clue helps, because long words have fewer possible arrangements. Common endings such as -ING, -ER, -ED and -LY, and letter pairs such as TH, CH, SH, ST and ER, make many clues easier to spot. Write a word in lightly, check it against the crossing words, and change it if a crossing letter disagrees.
Frequently asked questions
How do you solve a jumble crossword?
Unscramble each clue using the letter count in brackets as a guide, and write the word into the matching numbered squares. Then check each answer against the words that cross it. If one crossing letter does not fit, the word is probably wrong.
Can I print a jumble crossword with the answers?
Yes. Use Print / Save PDF to get the puzzle followed by an answer page, or use Print answer key only for the answers alone. Printouts are yours to use for personal, school, classroom and business purposes. You may not resell the printouts as a stand-alone product, and no credit line is required.
Is this the newspaper jumble crossword?
No. The puzzles on this page are made by this site, and it does not show any newspaper’s puzzle or answers. If you want a daily puzzle, try Today’s Jumble puzzle.
Can I choose the topic and number of words?
Yes. Pick a topic from the list, which includes Mixed topics and lists grouped as Topics, Holidays, Science, Kids and Hard words. Then choose 6, 8, 10 or 12 words and set the Word length to Easy, Medium or Hard.
Is it free and is anything uploaded?
The tool is free and needs no account. Everything runs in your browser, and nothing you type is uploaded. The puzzle is not saved when you leave the page, so use Copy link if you want to return to it.
Related tools
- Today’s Jumble puzzle: use it for a daily jumble-style puzzle.
- Word scramble game: use it to unscramble single words against a timer.
- Jumble solver: use it when you have scrambled letters from another puzzle.
- Anagram puzzles: use them to practise rearranging letters into words.
- Easy word scramble for kids: use it for younger players who are learning to unscramble words.
- Printable word scramble worksheets: use them when you need paper activities for a class or home.
- Science and animal word scramble: use it for scrambles focused on animals and science.