Nature Crossword Puzzles: Free Printable and Online

Discover the wonders of the natural world, including flora, fauna, geography, and environmental science. Explore ecosystems, weather, and conservation efforts.

Print any nature crossword below, download it as a PDF, or play it online. Free, and no signup is needed to play.

10 puzzles, click Print on any puzzle below

animals

Easy · 7×7 · 7 words
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Across

  1. 1. A bird of prey known for being wise and nocturnal
  2. 6. The tallest land animal on Earth
  3. 7. A large, furry mammal that hibernates in winter

Down

  1. 2. A wild canine that lives and hunts in a pack
  2. 3. A loyal four-legged animal known as man's best friend
  3. 4. A large animal often used for riding
  4. 5. An African animal known for its black and white stripes

nature

Hard · 15×15 · 28 words
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Across

  1. 1. Topography that is full of holes and hidden caves
  2. 4. A glacial valley that invited the sea inside
  3. 6. A sudden, violent tantrum from the sky
  4. 7. A triangular gift from a river to the coast
  5. 9. The underground anchor that drinks for the tree
  6. 11. A marriage of fungus and algae living on a stone
  7. 13. A forceful blow that lacks a fist
  8. 14. The thickest layer of the planet, hidden beneath our feet
  9. 17. A forested wetland where the trees have wet feet
  10. 18. Atmospheric chaos involving wind, water, and noise
  11. 20. A vast, treeless plain where the ground stays frozen in its heart
  12. 22. A flat-topped table that cannot be set for dinner
  13. 23. The moon's rhythmic pull on the world's liquid hem
  14. 24. The colorful billboard of a flower

Down

  1. 2. A submerged ridge that is alive
  2. 3. A shallow pool separated from the sea by a sandy barrier
  3. 4. The collective green residents of a specific region
  4. 5. Morning's tears on a blade of grass
  5. 6. A grassy plain where trees are loners
  6. 8. To eat greedily, or a narrow valley between cliffs
  7. 10. A steep cliff that might be faking its height
  8. 12. Earth that remembers the shape of your hands
  9. 13. A terrestrial fountain with a short fuse
  10. 15. A dark cloud that never travels without rain
  11. 16. A stone ghost of a prehistoric inhabitant
  12. 17. A single-celled traveler that builds a fungal empire
  13. 19. The velvet of the forest floor that lacks roots
  14. 21. A hill of sand that walks with the wind

nature

Hard · 15×15 · 26 words
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Across

  1. 2. A large neighborhood defined by its weather
  2. 3. Coastal scavenger with a laugh
  3. 7. A cloud that lost its height
  4. 9. The debris at the foot of a cliff
  5. 10. Subterranean anchor
  6. 14. A tree with its feet in the salt
  7. 15. The sun's highest point in the blue
  8. 17. A dense tangle of thorns and brush
  9. 18. Night perspiration found on blades
  10. 21. The sea's secret backward pull
  11. 22. Earth that remembers your touch
  12. 23. Untouched by the hand of man

Down

  1. 1. The earth's periodic steam whistle
  2. 2. Peat's soggy home
  3. 4. A symbiotic partnership on a rock
  4. 5. Where the river meets the tide
  5. 6. A very loud wind
  6. 7. The forest's velvet carpet
  7. 8. The pollen-bearing part of the bloom
  8. 11. Common crystal found in the crust
  9. 12. Shedding leaves at the finish line
  10. 13. A tree's protective skin
  11. 15. The belt of constellations in the sky
  12. 16. Mountain eye filled with tears
  13. 19. The tide with the least ambition
  14. 20. Vascular plant that prefers spores to seeds

nature

Medium · 11×11 · 15 words
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Across

  1. 5. A seedless plant with feathery fronds
  2. 7. Violent weather with strong winds and rain
  3. 11. A mountain with a vent for lava
  4. 13. Green vegetation covering a meadow
  5. 14. A small, narrow river
  6. 15. Where the land meets the ocean

Down

  1. 1. A large body of water surrounded by land
  2. 2. Liquid precipitation from the sky
  3. 3. Soft green carpet found on damp rocks
  4. 4. A steep high face of rock or ice
  5. 6. A large natural stream of water flowing to the sea
  6. 8. A vast, flat, treeless Arctic region
  7. 9. An area of relatively level high ground
  8. 10. A large area covered chiefly with trees
  9. 12. Arid land with very little rainfall

SAONS

Easy · 7×7 · 7 words
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Across

  1. 1. The star at the center of our solar system
  2. 3. A large body of saltwater
  3. 5. To stay on the surface of water
  4. 6. A piece of land surrounded by water

Down

  1. 1. The foam made by breaking waves
  2. 2. The distance from the top to the bottom
  3. 4. Hard colorful structures in the ocean

Shark Week Frenzy

Medium · 11×11 · 15 words
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Across

  1. 2. What a hungry carnivore is constantly searching for
  2. 6. Plunge into the deep blue to observe marine life
  3. 7. The largest fish in the sea, which is actually a gentle filter-feeder
  4. 8. Top of the food chain status
  5. 10. The television network that turns summer into a shark-lover's paradise
  6. 12. Term for species that roam the open sea rather than coasts
  7. 14. The vast saltwater habitat of these cartilaginous fish
  8. 15. Relating to the sea and its incredible biodiversity

Down

  1. 1. The structural bone that houses rows of serrated weapons
  2. 3. Coral ecosystem where whitetips often patrol
  3. 4. A sudden, sharp attack from a hungry hunter
  4. 5. A flesh-eating creature at the top of the food web
  5. 9. An animal that hunts others for survival
  6. 11. The fastest shark in the sea, capable of impressive leaps
  7. 13. A metal enclosure protecting underwater thrill-seekers

Dinosaurs

Easy · 7×7 · 7 words
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Across

  1. 3. A plant-eating animal.
  2. 6. When a species no longer has any living members.
  3. 7. A long and distinct period of history.

Down

  1. 1. Cold-blooded animal with scales.
  2. 2. A small but intelligent and fast predator.
  3. 4. Hard mineralized part of a skeleton.
  4. 5. Sharp structures in the mouth for chewing or biting.

animals

Easy · 5×5 · 5 words
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Printing for a class?

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Across

  1. 1. An aquatic animal that breathes through gills.
  2. 3. A graceful forest animal with antlers.
  3. 4. A farm animal known for rolling in mud.

Down

  1. 2. A farm animal with thick wool.
  2. 3. A loyal canine known as man's best friend.

sharks

Easy · 5×5 · 4 words
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Across

  1. 3. The largest habitat on Earth
  2. 4. Fish parts used as bait

Down

  1. 1. Hard, sharp objects in the mouth
  2. 2. A body part used for steering in the water

animals

Medium · 11×11 · 15 words
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Printing for a class?

Print 2 or 4 versions of this puzzle with different grid layouts, so desk neighbors cannot copy answers. Same words and clues, and each version has its own answer key. Class sets are a Pro feature in the Grid Genius app.

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Across

  1. 1. A female deer
  2. 5. Solitary cat known for its rosettes
  3. 7. Pet that often lands on its feet
  4. 9. Great ape that shares most of its DNA with humans
  5. 11. Farm animal with a snout and curly tail
  6. 12. Tiny worker in a complex colony
  7. 13. Slow-moving mammal of the rainforest canopy

Down

  1. 2. Nocturnal bird known for silent flight
  2. 3. Cunning mammal with a bushy tail
  3. 4. The only mammal capable of true flight
  4. 6. Mammal with a leathery armor shell
  5. 7. The fastest land mammal over short distances
  6. 8. The tallest living land animal
  7. 9. The ship of the desert
  8. 10. Sleek aquatic weasel that enjoys play

Make your own Nature crossword

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Related Printable Crossword Topics

Nature Crossword FAQ

Is this Nature crossword puzzle free?

Yes. Every Nature crossword on this page is free. You can print it, download it as a PDF, or play it online without paying anything or creating an account.

Can I print the Nature crossword?

Yes. Click Print on any puzzle for a print-ready page with the grid, the clues, and a name and date line, or use Download to save it as a PDF, PNG, or JPEG for photocopying. The PDF download includes a filled answer key on the last page for grading.

Can students play these crosswords online?

Yes. Every puzzle has a Play online link that opens in the browser on any device. No app install and no signup is needed to play, which makes it easy to share with a class.

Can I make my own Nature crossword?

Yes. The free Grid Genius crossword maker builds a puzzle from your own words and clues, with a printable grid and answer key. The Grid Genius app can also generate a complete crossword from any topic you type.