What the crossword helper does
Enter a pattern – the letters you know, plus a placeholder for each empty square – and the crossword helper lists every word in our dictionary that fits. Add a word from the clue, and it keeps only the words whose short definition contains that word. Results come with brief definitions where we have them, so you can check a meaning without leaving the page.
How to use it
- Type the pattern. Use one character per square: the letters you know, and ? or _ for each unknown square – for example c?t or ??ar.
- Add a clue word (optional). Type a word or two from the clue, such as "tree" or "water". Only words whose definition contains those words are kept.
- Search. Matching words appear with short definitions.
- Copy the answer. Tap a word to copy it, or use its three-dot menu for syllables, rhymes and more.
Fill in the blank word finder: examples
- c?t gives cat, cot and cut.
- ??ar gives four-letter words ending in "ar", such as bear, dear, fear, near, star and year.
- br??d gives braid, brand, bread, breed, broad and brood.
- ?a?e fits more than a hundred words. Add the clue word "water" and the list drops to a handful, including lake, wade and wave.
Ways to use the crossword helper
Daily crosswords
When a corner of the grid won't budge, type the letters you have from crossing answers and see what fits. Often one word jumps out as soon as you see it.
Fill-in-the-blank puzzles and worksheets
Many puzzles and school worksheets show a word with a few letters missing. Type it with a ? for each gap and pick the word that makes sense.
Missing-letter games for kids
Write a word with a letter or two left out and ask kids to fill the gaps. Use the helper to see every possible answer – sometimes there's more than one.
Building your own crossword
Making a grid for a class, a newsletter or a friend? When crossing words leave you with a pattern like ?o?e, the helper shows every word that could slot in.
Smudged or half-read words
Reading a faded note or an old recipe? Type the letters you can make out, use ? for the rest, and see which words fit.
Tips
- Count the squares first. The pattern has to be exactly as long as the answer.
- Fill in crossing letters. Every letter you add from a crossing answer cuts the list down sharply.
- Keep clue words simple. The clue filter matches words in our definitions; it doesn't understand wordplay. A plain word like "tree", "bird" or "river" works better than a whole clue.
- No results with a clue? Clear the clue box. Some words don't have a definition in our dictionary, so they can't match a clue.
- Answer is a phrase? The dictionary holds single words, so solve each word of the phrase on its own.
- Five letters and colored hints? The 5-letter word finder handles yellow and gray letters too.
Questions
How do I use a fill in the blank word finder?
Type the word with a ? or _ for every missing letter, such as pl?n?t. The tool lists every word that fits – in this case, planet.
Can I use it as a word finder for a missing letter?
Yes. Type the word with a ? where the missing letter goes. For example, bre?d gives bread and breed.
Should I use ? or _ for unknown letters?
Either one works. Each stands for exactly one letter.
How does the clue filter work?
It looks for your clue words in the short definition of each matching word. It's a simple text match, so it can't solve tricky wordplay, but it works well for plain clues like "a kind of tree".
Does it know the answers to a specific crossword?
No. It doesn't know any puzzle's answers. It lists the words that fit your pattern, and you choose the one that matches the clue.
Can the missing letter word finder handle long words?
Yes. The dictionary covers words from 2 to 15 letters long, so your pattern can be any length in that range.
Is the crossword word finder free?
Yes – it's free, with no sign-up, no cookies and no tracking.
Last updated October 2, 2026