Large print word search puzzles for seniors

Word search puzzles in the largest print we make, for older adults and anyone who finds ordinary puzzle books a strain: 30-point letters in a ruled grid, words that read across and down only, familiar themes such as the corner shop, baking day and the seaside, and every answer at the back, printed just as large. Each book is a PDF you download straight away and print at home, one puzzle to a page, in US Letter or A4.

What makes a word search right for seniors?

Print size comes first. Most word search books are set in 14- to 18-point letters, which is fine until eyesight changes; these are 30-point, about twice the height, in a grid of twelve letters a side with a ruled line between every cell so the eye never loses its row. The word lists are large too, and so are the solutions.

Direction comes second. Words that run backwards or diagonally turn a word search into a decoding exercise, and for many older solvers that is where the frustration starts. In every one of these puzzles the words read left to right or top to bottom only, so the pleasure is in the finding. Every word appears exactly once, checked by machine in all eight directions, so there is never a second copy to wonder about.

Then the words themselves. Each puzzle has a theme that brings something to mind, such as washday, the corner shop, Sunday dinner, the bird table, a steam train, knitting or the dance hall, and the ten words are everyday ones: things people have said, held and cooked a thousand times. Nothing needs a dictionary, and a puzzle often starts a conversation across the table.

Printing tips for low vision

• Print at 100%. Choose “Actual size” in the print dialog, not “Fit to page”, so the letters stay 30-point.
• Bigger still? Print on Tabloid or A3 paper with “Fit to page” and the letters come out nearly half as large again.
• Single-sided, plain paper. Each puzzle lies flat on its own sheet, and a soft pencil or a felt-tip shows up well against the clean grid.
• Print a few at a time. The puzzles are pages 4 to 103 of every book. Print the ones you want today and keep the rest for later; you can print them as often as you like.

For care homes and activity rooms

Because the books are PDFs, one download covers the activity room: print a stack of the same puzzle for the table, or a different theme for each person. The personal-use license covers your own family, your own classroom and the activity room you run; for a whole organisation, email us for a group license.

Try one free

The free Jumbo Word Search sampler has one puzzle from every book, with the solutions, so you can see how the print size suits you before buying. No email needed. Prefer to color? See our coloring pages for seniors.

Common questions