About this word search
Explore library vocabulary with ten hidden words in this original 14-by-14 word search. The printable includes a visible word bank and a separate highlighted answer page. Words run left to right, top to bottom or diagonally down-right; none run backward. This limited set of directions suits a learner who is ready to scan a full grid but would benefit from knowing exactly which paths are possible.
How to solve it
Start with a word whose first letter or length makes it easy to recognize. Find that letter, check the next letter in each allowed direction and continue only when the sequence matches. Mark the complete word and cross it off the bank. A matching first and last letter is not enough: read every letter between them. Work without a timer first, or let a pair of learners alternate finding and checking words.
Word bank and learning extension
BOOK, SHELF, CATALOG, AUTHOR, TITLE, INDEX, SPINE, CHAPTER, BORROW, RETURN.
Describe how you might find and borrow a book. Library arrangements vary, so use your own library’s instructions when turning the vocabulary activity into a real visit.
Adapt the activity
The ten words range from 4 to 7 letters. Read the word bank together before searching if the vocabulary is new. You can cover part of the grid to reduce visual load, but keep the word bank available. The solution page uses the same letters as the practice page and highlights every intended path. Each listed word has exactly one occurrence in the allowed directions; unrelated letter combinations are not extra tasks.
Answers in text
Count rows from top to bottom and columns from left to right, starting at 1. Each answer gives the first and last letter position.
- BOOK: row 1, column 1 to row 1, column 4.
- SHELF: row 5, column 8 to row 9, column 8.
- CATALOG: row 6, column 13 to row 12, column 13.
- AUTHOR: row 1, column 14 to row 6, column 14.
- TITLE: row 3, column 11 to row 7, column 11.
- INDEX: row 14, column 5 to row 14, column 9.
- SPINE: row 2, column 7 to row 6, column 7.
- CHAPTER: row 10, column 5 to row 10, column 11.
- BORROW: row 3, column 6 to row 8, column 6.
- RETURN: row 13, column 8 to row 13, column 13.
Printable solution
Download and printing instructions
Use Download image below either printable to save its original high-resolution PNG. For a PDF, choose US Letter or A4 and select Download PDF; the existing website tool creates the file in your browser. Match the printer paper setting, use uniform scaling and check that the word bank and all grid edges are visible in print preview. Print the puzzle first and keep the answer page aside. Test one copy before printing a set. These original pages are for personal and classroom use; share the article link rather than redistributing the files.