Difficult Crossword Puzzles Printable

Q: How do I save a crossword as a PDF?

Press Print puzzles, then in the print dialog choose Save as PDF as the printer. The grid and clues stay together on one clean page per puzzle.

Q: Is there an answer key?

Yes. Print answer key prints the solved grids with a numbered list of every answer. Print both puts the key after the puzzles.

A printable crossword for a long afternoon. The default Expert setting builds a 17×17 grid with around thirty clues, long crossing answers and a clue style that rewards patience. Prefer a gentler challenge? Drop to Hard or Medium from the menu. Print the puzzle, then the answer key when you are ready.

How to play Difficult Crossword Puzzles Printable

Choose a theme and a difficulty, then press New puzzles to build a fresh crossword.
The sheet shows a numbered grid with the Across and Down clues underneath, and the length of each answer in brackets.
Press Print puzzles for the worksheets, or Print both to add an answer key page after them.
Choose Show answers to preview the filled-in grid on screen before you print it.
Want a different puzzle? Press New puzzles as many times as you like; there is no limit and no sign-up.

Controls

Theme picks the topic, or choose Mixed themes for general knowledge.
Difficulty sets the grid size and clue style: Easy 11×11, Medium 13×13, Hard 15×15, Expert 17×17.
Puzzles per set builds up to four different crosswords at once, each on its own page.
Large print makes the clues bigger and keeps the grid at 13×13 or smaller.
Print puzzles, Print answer key or Print both open your browser’s print dialog; pick “Save as PDF” as the destination to download a PDF.

Tips

Work the crossings: a word you are sure of gives letters to two or three neighbors.
Treat each clue as a riddle. The obvious meaning is often the wrong one.
Pencil in doubtful letters lightly and print the answer key only at the end.

Difficult crosswords by topic

Animals crossword · Food & cooking crossword · Nature & weather crossword · Science crossword · Space crossword · Sports crossword · Music crossword · Geography crossword · History crossword · Around the house crossword · Holidays & seasons crossword · Words & language crossword · Travel crossword.

More printable crossword pages

Printable crossword puzzles · Easy crossword puzzles printable · Large print crossword puzzles · Hard crosswords printable

More puzzles

Play the daily mini crossword online · Printable word search · Printable sudoku.

FAQ

How difficult are these crosswords?

Expert is our largest grid, 17×17, built from less common words with indirect clues. Medium is a gentler 13×13 and Hard is 15×15.

Are the answers common words?

Mostly. Difficulty comes from the wording of the clue and the number of crossings, not from obscure trivia.

How do I save a crossword as a PDF?

Press Print puzzles, then in the print dialog choose Save as PDF as the printer. The grid and clues stay together on one clean page per puzzle.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Print answer key prints the solved grids with a numbered list of every answer. Print both puts the key after the puzzles.

Are the clues original?

Yes. Every clue and word list is written for this site; none are copied from newspapers or puzzle books.

Is every crossword different?

Yes. Each grid is built on the spot by a fill algorithm that crosses words at shared letters, so you will not get the same sheet twice.

Can I use these in class or for a party?

Yes. Printing for personal, classroom and party use is fine. Please do not resell the sheets.