Variations
What prints with the starting settings
| Paper | US Letter — 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in) |
|---|---|
| Grid | 14 × 14 letters |
| Words hidden | 16 of 16 |
| Margins | 1/2″ |
| Line weight | 0.18 mm (bold 0.35 mm) |
| Print setting | Scale 100% / Actual size |
A ready-made ocean animals puzzle
This printable has 16 words hidden across, down and diagonally in a 14 × 14 grid, with the word list underneath and an answer page at the back of the PDF. It suits any time of year. A few of these are not true fish: whales and dolphins are mammals, starfish are echinoderms and octopuses are molluscs, which makes a good question after the puzzle.
Shallow water or deep sea
Easy, for kids keeps the sea creatures across and down. The default sends some diagonally, and Hard turns words such as JELLYFISH and SEAHORSE backwards. It is a good partner to an ocean topic at school or a trip to an aquarium, where children can tick off the animals they saw.
Ideas for using it
- After solving, sort the animals into fish, mammals, birds and others.
- Pair it with an aquarium visit or a nature documentary.
- Use the easy version with younger children learning animal names.
Printing tips
Print at 100% on Letter or A4. Take a copy to the aquarium or the beach and circle each animal when you spot it. For a classroom sea topic, add the crossword maker with your own definitions, such as “Animal with eight arms”.
More word search maker sheets
Frequently asked questions
Which words are in this puzzle?
Coral, Crab, Dolphin, Jellyfish, Lobster, Octopus, Oyster, Pelican, Seahorse, Seal, Shark, Shrimp, Squid, Starfish, Turtle, Whale.
Are all the words ocean animals?
Almost all. Coral is an animal colony, the pelican is a sea bird that feeds in coastal water, and the rest live in the sea.
Is it suitable for a school ocean topic?
Yes. Use Easy for younger classes, and swap in vocabulary from your lesson, such as habitats or food chain words.
Can I print copies with different grids?
Yes. New puzzle hides the same 16 animals in a new arrangement each time.
Last updated · About us