How to play Word Fill-In: tips for fitting the words in
Last updated October 1, 2026
A word fill-in is a crossword with no clues. You are given an empty grid and a list of words, and your job is to find the one place where each word fits. It is a calm puzzle for anyone who enjoys order more than trivia: there is nothing to look up, nothing to type and no timer to beat.
How a puzzle works
The grid has black and white squares. A place is a row or a column of three or more white squares. Every word in the list goes into exactly one place, and where two places cross they share a letter. Tap a word in the list, then tap a square of the place where it should go. When every word is in and all the crossings agree, the puzzle is finished.
Tip 1: count the letters
A word can only go where there are the same number of squares. The list is sorted by length for exactly this reason. Look for a length that has just one word and just one place: that word has nowhere else to go, so place it first.
Tip 2: start with the longest
Long words are the hardest to fit, so there are few places for them and few words to choose from. The longest word in the list often has only one possible place. Once it is in, its letters tell you something about every word that crosses it.
Tip 3: follow the crossings
Pick a place that already has a letter in it from a word you placed. Ask which words of the right length have that letter in that position. Usually there is only one, and it has its own crossings that lead you on. A word will not go in if a letter disagrees with a word it crosses, so you cannot wander far from the answer.
Tip 4: change your mind freely
If a word is not working, tap it in the list to take it out, or select its place and press Clear word. Nothing is marked against you. If you get stuck, taking out the last word you placed and trying a different one of the same length is the usual way forward.
When you are stuck
Press Hint. If a word in the grid does not belong, it is taken out; otherwise one right word is placed for you. Hints only change the stars you earn, and you can use as many as you like.
Easy is a 5 by 5 grid, Medium is 6 by 6 and Hard is 7 by 7. See the large print Word Fill-In puzzles.
More guides
Keep going with how to solve Sudoku, how to solve crossword puzzles, word search tips, how to play Word Scramble, how to play Honeycomb Words, how to play Word Groups, and how to play Mahjong Solitaire. Or browse all the puzzle guides.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I have to type the words?
- No. You tap a word in the list and then tap the place where it goes. A keyboard is never needed.
- Are there any clues?
- No. The list of words is all you get, and the length of each word and the letters where words cross are what lead you to the answer. Every puzzle has exactly one solution.
- What if I put a word in the wrong place?
- Tap the word in the list to take it out, or select its place and press Clear word. A word will not go in if one of its letters would not match a word that crosses it, so a wrong word shows itself quickly.
- How big are the grids?
- Easy is 5 by 5 with six to eight words, Medium is 6 by 6 and Hard is 7 by 7, with longer words and more crossings.
- Can I get a hint?
- Yes. Press Hint: a word that does not belong is taken out, and otherwise one right word is placed for you. Hints are unlimited and only change the stars you earn.
Try it now
Try today’s Easy Word Fill-In: a small grid and a list of words, with no clues. It is free every day, with no account and no ads.