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Fill-In Crosswords
Fill-In Crosswords, also called fill-it-ins or kriss kross, hand you a blank crossword grid and a bank of words instead of clues. Your task is to place each listed word into the grid so everything interlocks. It rewards logic and pattern-fitting rather than trivia knowledge.
Fill-In Crosswords Rules
You receive an empty grid with numbered slots and a separate list of words grouped by length. Unlike a standard crossword, there are no clue definitions — the words themselves are given.
Place each word into a slot of matching length so that every crossing square agrees: where an across word and a down word overlap, they must share the same letter. Each word from the list is used exactly once.
The puzzle is complete when every grid slot is filled and every listed word has been placed with no conflicts. There is one arrangement that uses all the words legally.
Fill-In Crosswords Strategy & Tips
Start with unique word lengths
Scan the list for a length that has only one word and only one matching slot — that's a forced placement. Each locked word seeds crossing letters for the rest.
Cross off words as you place them
Strike each word from the bank the moment it's down. The shrinking list narrows your choices and prevents accidentally reusing or skipping a word.
Use a single placed letter to filter
Once a crossing square is filled, only words with that letter in that position can go in the intersecting slot. One letter often eliminates most candidates.
Save crowded sections for last
Densely interlocked clusters have the most constraints. Fill the open edges first, then let the accumulated crossing letters do the work in the tight middle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fill-in crossword?
A crossword variant with no clues — you're given the complete list of answer words and must fit each one into the correct grid slot using length and letter crossings.
How is it different from a regular crossword?
A regular crossword gives clues and asks you to recall the words; a fill-in gives you the words and asks you to place them. It's a logic puzzle, not a trivia test.
Where do I start a fill-in puzzle?
Find a word length that appears only once in the list and matches only one slot. That guaranteed placement gives you crossing letters to build from.
Is every word used exactly once?
Yes. The word bank contains exactly the words needed to fill the grid, each placed a single time, with one valid overall solution.