Riddle DenOriginal print-and-solve packs
Free 24-page fall activity pack

12 free fall word search printables

Download a complete fall and autumn word-search pack in three difficulty levels, with a matching answer for every puzzle. Each grid uses original activity data and has been checked against saved solution coordinates.

Download US Letter PDFDownload A4 PDF

Puzzles are on pages 1-12. Highlighted answers are on pages 13-24. No sign-up and no watermark.

Preview and choose a puzzle or answer page

Choose a page from the actual PDF contents. The links open the complete 24-page file at your selection when supported by your PDF viewer; they are not separate single-page files.

Open US Letter at page 1Open A4 at page 1

In the print dialog, enter page 1 to print only that page. Some pages contain more than one puzzle or answer.

Download puzzle pages or answer pages separately

Choose an original-layout separate file and paper size. The unchanged original full-pack downloads above remain available. These are independent PDF files, not page-position links.

These separate files contain the original 12 puzzles or their 12 matching answers, without adding new puzzles. Print only the puzzle pages for a group and keep answers separate.

Original layout, separate files

Puzzles only · US Letter · 12 pagesAnswers only · US Letter · 12 pagesPuzzles only · A4 · 12 pagesAnswers only · A4 · 12 pages

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Actual printable US Letter page 1: Puzzle 1: Leaf Shapes

High-contrast preview: actual US Letter page 1, Puzzle 1: Leaf Shapes. Open the PDF for full-size printing. The interactive viewer can display every original page.

Use the PDF links to view or print the selected page.

Open this page in the full-size PDF

Actual US Letter PDF page 1. Select a page above to see its real contents. A4 uses its own print layout.

Choose a fall word search by difficulty

The pack begins with short forward-only words and moves into longer science, color, sensory, and migration vocabulary. Print one page for a quick autumn activity or mix levels for a classroom, family table, library program, or seasonal event.

Easy

Friendly starts

12x12 grids, 12 short words, and forward-only horizontal, vertical, and diagonal paths.

Medium

A balanced search

15x15 grids, 16 words, and a planned mix of all eight directions.

Challenging

Longer and denser

18x18 grids, 20 words or phrases, backward paths, diagonals, and intersections.

What is inside the autumn puzzle pack

Fall and autumn name the same season, so both terms belong in this one collection. Every theme has independent vocabulary, a distinct grid, and its own answer page.

Easy

1. Leaf Shapes

12x12 · 12 words · answer page 13

Easy

2. Woodland Finds

12x12 · 12 words · answer page 14

Easy

3. Apple Orchard

12x12 · 12 words · answer page 15

Easy

4. Fall Clothing

12x12 · 12 words · answer page 16

Medium

5. Changing Trees

15x15 · 16 words · answer page 17

Medium

6. Autumn Weather

15x15 · 16 words · answer page 18

Medium

7. Harvest Field

15x15 · 16 words · answer page 19

Medium

8. Fall Outdoors

15x15 · 16 words · answer page 20

Challenging

9. Autumn Colors

18x18 · 20 words · answer page 21

Challenging

10. Forest Ecology in Fall

18x18 · 20 words · answer page 22

Challenging

11. Fall Through the Senses

18x18 · 20 words · answer page 23

Challenging

12. Migration and Autumn Sky

18x18 · 20 words · answer page 24

Seasonal boundary: this pack covers changing leaves, orchards, mild fall weather, field work, outdoor activities, color, ecology, and migration. Thanksgiving gratitude, turkey, feast-table, parade, and holiday-observance words are reserved for the separate Thanksgiving collection; snow and ice belong to Winter.

Preview three real fall word searches

These are the actual generated grids for puzzles 1, 6, and 10. Compare their density and word-list length before downloading.

Easy

Leaf Shapes

12x12
KBXTAOLPJQWN
QTFMIWROUNDB
MLLOAKMIBLYE
SWSYYPWNDEOP
QLTKBILTCODV
EJBPDYLEAVES
TDRGUTBDCABJ
JAGXDNWIOLTP
RAUEIXISRLGX
SOOLSSEONCLN
HNEMRMCTCRHI
TQMSGLMVEINS
Show the 12-word list
  • Acorn
  • Birch
  • Edges
  • Elm
  • Leaves
  • Lobed
  • Maple
  • Oak
  • Oval
  • Pointed
  • Round
  • Veins
Medium

Autumn Weather

15x15
SBGIZLIVBXVHUJY
BHRZLDSRZIUXWJB
FYSITTANILWBSHZ
WNHUSIAMVXASDUI
UCAINKRRPXKUUCD
UBMYJJZNKCCCOCU
GGZSTCSWAOLOLMD
XGLKYSMNLPAVCXV
DVRAPSUDEWUEOTJ
URQEGOFGNINROMF
DYHRDRIZZLECLAL
ZNDBOXYIMDHAEXR
GGMNKSREWOHSREV
IYTUINGSHOGTHWX
RPESWWECCSPIBZO
Show the 16-word list
  • Brisk
  • Chill
  • Clouds
  • Cold front
  • Cooler
  • Damp
  • Dew
  • Drizzle
  • Gusty
  • Mist
  • Morning fog
  • Overcast
  • Rainy
  • Showers
  • Sun break
  • Windy
Challenging

Forest Ecology in Fall

18x18
TONRESOPMOCEDPJZGE
XLEAFLITTEROSYNCEV
CTKUSRIVUOTPULHAAP
HBPPTWKDVYKXMTCRAH
GIDJNZNIFAMIUITOUO
YEBREMTHMOCWHXETRT
ZPNEIICLEROEWCPEAO
IPOORMYIOSUDRQKNVS
ZQOTTNJHLLEGCCTOTY
XIEGUOAOHPHREHBIYN
YDTINBCTPALPOXADWT
LYVOIDAEISDCNPDIEH
ERUTSIOMSOYGJVSANE
MZALYQEFOANPFKFXJS
LTBFBEWWNAJXCQGYWI
OFSEEDDISPERSALFLS
TYJLWUNBJMUILECYMX
HNAFZPAROOTSYSTEMX
Show the 20-word list
  • Anthocyanin
  • Carotenoid
  • Decomposer
  • Detritivore
  • Ecotone
  • Food chain
  • Hibernation
  • Humus
  • Leaf litter
  • Microhabitat
  • Moisture
  • Mycelium
  • Nutrients
  • Phloem
  • Photosynthesis
  • Root system
  • Seed dispersal
  • Spores
  • Woodpecker
  • Xylem

How every puzzle was checked

Independent puzzle data

Each theme has a separate target list, grid seed, and saved start and end coordinates.

Every target verified

Each stored path is read from the final grid, then every target is scanned in all eight directions to confirm one occurrence.

Matching answers

The second half repeats the exact activity grids with intended cells highlighted and directions labeled.

Classroom and seasonal activity ideas

Offer a level choice

Set out one easy, medium, and challenging sheet so solvers can select a comfortable grid.

Add a vocabulary step

After solving, choose three unfamiliar terms from the ecology or color puzzles and define them together.

Reuse a favorite

Slip a page into a dry-erase sleeve for an early-finisher bin, library table, or quiet activity station.

Explore more printable word searches

Use the general collection for year-round themes, the hard pack for 20x20 grids, or the Christmas and Halloween packs for holiday-specific vocabulary.

GeneralHardChristmasHalloween

How to print the PDFs

Choose Letter for 8.5x11-inch paper or A4 for 210x297-mm paper. Print at 100% or actual size. To keep solutions aside, print pages 1-12 first; answers begin on page 13.

Black-and-white printing works for activity pages, and the answer highlights remain visible in grayscale.

Use permission

You may print copies for personal use, one classroom, a library activity, or a community group. Please do not resell the files, remove the edition notice, upload the PDFs elsewhere, or bundle them into another product.

Fall word search questions

Are these fall word searches free?

Yes. Both paper sizes are free to download and print under the use permission above.

Are answer keys included?

Yes. The answers match puzzles 1-12 and occupy pages 13-24.

Are fall and autumn word searches different?

No. Fall is common in US English and autumn is a widely used synonym. This page combines both search intents and provides one original resource collection.

Which difficulty should I choose?

Easy has short words and no backward paths, Medium uses every direction, and Challenging uses longer terms in denser 18x18 grids. Choose according to reading and puzzle experience.

Can I print these for a classroom?

Yes. You may print copies for one classroom, library activity, or community group.

Are Thanksgiving puzzles included?

No. Field work and natural seasonal change belong here; Thanksgiving observance, gratitude, turkey, parade, and feast vocabulary belong to a separate collection.