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Ever thought making a crossword puzzle was too complicated? Not anymore.
Thanks to Canva’s Activities Maker, you can now create beautifully designed, printable crossword puzzles — complete with clues, keys, and answer sheets — all within Canva’s editor.

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, content creator, or freelance designer, this tool is a game-changer for worksheets, freebies, and engagement content.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Canva Crossword Tutorial:

• How to access Canva’s Activities Maker app
• How to create a custom crossword puzzle with clues
• How to generate solution keys (cheat sheets)
• How to style & print your crossword as a worksheet or fun activity
• Creative use cases: social media, school handouts, lead magnets & more!

✨ Step-by-Step: How to Make a Crossword Puzzle in Canva

Let’s break down the exact steps shown in the video:

✅ Step 1: Open a Blank Canva Design

Start with any custom size or A4 format depending on your printable needs.

✅ Step 2: Launch the “Activities Maker” App

• Go to the “Apps” tab inside the Canva editor
• Search for “Activities Maker”
• Click to launch it — this tool includes Word Search, Maze, and Crossword Puzzle creators

✅ Step 3: Choose “Crossword” from the Tool

Once inside the Activities Maker:

• Select Crossword
• You’ll see options to enter words manually or upload from a file
• Canva offers sample word lists (e.g., countries, animals) — or add your own

✅ Step 4: Enter Your Words + Clues

Input each word followed by a clue, using a semicolon ; to separate them.

Example:

Pizza;Italian food with cheese and tomato  

Sushi;Japanese dish with rice and fish  

💡 You can paste in a list generated from ChatGPT or your own custom topic (e.g., food, holidays, history).

✅ Step 5: Generate Your Crossword Instantly

Click “Generate” and watch Canva build the puzzle!
You’ll get:

• A complete crossword grid
• Clues listed as Across and Down
• A cheat sheet with answers (can be placed on a separate page)

🖨️ Print-Ready Puzzle with Design Customization

• Add a background to make it look like a newspaper or vintage paper
• Insert your branding or logo if it’s for a client or freebie
• Move the cheat sheet to Page 2 for separate printing

🧩 Perfect for:

• Teacher worksheets
• Printable lead magnets
• Boredom busters at home
• Social media engagement posts
• Client content kits