26 Free Printable Word Search Puzzles | Readers Digest - Free Printable

To solve this Summer Word Search, we need to find each word from the list inside the grid of letters. The words can be hidden horizontally (left to right), vertically (top to bottom), or sometimes backwards.

Here is the step-by-step location for each word:

1. Sun: Look at the very top row (Row 1). The first three letters are S-U-N.
2. Waves: Look at Row 8 (the second to last row). Starting at the 3rd letter, it spells W-A-V-E-S.
3. Fun: Look at Row 5. Starting at the 6th letter, it spells F-U-N (reading backwards/right-to-left). *Correction*: Let's look closer. Actually, looking at Column 7 (vertical), rows 4-6 spell F-U-N? No. Let's re-scan.
* Ah, look at Row 5 again: `L L W R R D Y N N`. No "Fun" there.
* Look at Column 8 (vertical): `A H O T N S H N E`. No.
* Let's check Row 4: `B E N E U E A A T`.
* Let's check Row 6: `O L N B O T S D F`.
* Let's check Row 7: `C A M B E A C H U`.
* Let's check vertical columns. Column 9 (last column): `A H O T N F U E`. Reading upwards from the bottom? `E U F...` no.
* Wait, let's look at Row 5 again carefully. `L L W R R D Y N N`.
* Let's look at Column 6. `N I C E D T A E P`.
* Let's look at Column 7. `P P L A Y S C P P`. Ah! Rows 5-7 in Column 7 are `Y`, `S`, `C`. That's not it. But look at Rows 4-6 in Column 7: `A`, `Y`, `S`.
* Let's re-read the grid carefully.
* Row 1: S U N W A N P U A
* Row 2: U S B A E I P L H
* Row 3: N H T T W C L S O
* Row 4: B E N E U E A A T
* Row 5: L L W R R D Y N N
* Row 6: O L N B O T S D F
* Row 7: C A M B E A C H U
* Row 8: K U W A V E S C N
* Row 9: P I N E A P P L E

Let's find them one by one based on this text extraction:

* Sun: Row 1, Columns 1-3 (SUNWANPUA).
* Waves: Row 8, Columns 3-7 (KUWAVESCN).
* Pineapple: Row 9, Columns 1-9 (PINEAPPLE).
* Beach: Row 7, Columns 4-8 (CAMBEACHU).
* Hot: Row 3, Column 3 is T. Row 4, Col 3 is N. Let's look vertically. Column 3: N, B, T, N, W, N, M, W, N. No.
* Look at Row 3: `N H T T W...`. There is a `T T`.
* Look at Column 9: `A H O T ...`. Rows 2-4 in Column 9 are H-O-T. (Row 2 ends in H, Row 3 ends in O, Row 4 ends in T). Yes! Vertical down.
* Water: Look at Column 8. `U L S A N D H C L`. No.
* Look at Row 2: `...I P L H`.
* Look at Row 3: `...L S O`.
* Look at Row 4: `...A A T`.
* Look at Row 5: `...Y N N`.
* Look at Row 6: `...S D F`.
* Look at Row 7: `...C H U`.
* Look at Row 8: `...S C N`.
* Let's check Vertical Column 5: `A E W U R O E V A`.
* Let's check Vertical Column 6: `N I C E D T A E P`.
* Let's check Vertical Column 4: `W A T E R ...`.
* Row 1, Col 4: W
* Row 2, Col 4: A
* Row 3, Col 4: T
* Row 4, Col 4: E
* Row 5, Col 4: R
* Yes! Water is in Column 4, Rows 1-5, going down.
* Play: Look at Column 7 again.
* Row 1: P
* Row 2: P
* Row 3: L
* Row 4: A
* Row 5: Y
* Rows 2-5 in Column 7 spell P-L-A-Y vertically.
* Sand: Look at Row 6. `O L N B O T S D F`. There is `S D`. Where is `A N`?
* Look at Column 2: `U S H E L L A U I`.
* Look at Column 3: `N B T N W N M W N`.
* Look at Column 6: `N I C E D T A E P`.
* Look at Row 5: `L L W R R D Y N N`.
* Look at Row 4: `B E N E U E A A T`.
* Let's check diagonal? Usually these are straight.
* Let's re-read Row 6: `O L N B O T S D F`.
* Let's look at Column 8 again: `U L S A N D H C L`.
* Row 2, Col 8: L
* Row 3, Col 8: S
* Row 4, Col 8: A
* Row 5, Col 8: N
* Row 6, Col 8: D
* Rows 3-6 in Column 8 spell S-A-N-D vertically.
* Shell: Look at Column 2.
* Row 2: S
* Row 3: H
* Row 4: E
* Row 5: L
* Row 6: L
* Rows 2-6 in Column 2 spell S-H-E-L-L vertically.
* Umbrella: This is a long word. Let's look for 'U'.
* Row 1, Col 8: U. Down? `U L S A N...` No.
* Row 2, Col 1: U. Down? `U N B L O C K...`
* Row 2, Col 1: U
* Row 3, Col 1: N -- Wait, the word is Umbrella.
* Let's check Row 2, Col 1 downwards:
* R2C1: U
* R3C1: N (No)
* Let's check Row 7, Col 9: U. Up? `U H O T...` No.
* Let's check Row 8, Col 2: U.
* Let's check Row 4, Col 5: U.
* Let's check Row 1, Col 8: U.
* Is it horizontal?
* Row 7 ends in U.
* Row 8 starts with K U.
* Let's look at Column 1: `S U N B L O C K P`.
* Let's look at Column 9: `A H O T N F U E`.
* Maybe I missed a horizontal one.
* Row 1: SUN WAN PUA
* Row 2: USBA EIPLH
* Row 3: NHTT WCLOSO -> Wait, Row 3 is `N H T T W C L S O`.
* Row 4: `B E N E U E A A T`.
* Row 5: `L L W R R D Y N N`.
* Row 6: `O L N B O T S D F`.
* Row 7: `C A M B E A C H U`.
* Row 8: `K U W A V E S C N`.
* Row 9: `P I N E A P P L E`.

Let's re-evaluate Umbrella.
Could it be Sunblock?
Column 1, Rows 2-9: `U N B L O C K P`. That spells UNBLOCK. Close to Sunblock, but missing S and has P.
Wait, Row 1 Col 1 is S.
Column 1, Rows 1-8: `S U N B L O C K`. That spells SUNBLOCK! (Rows 1 through 8 in the first column).

So where is Umbrella?
Let's look for "Umbrella" again.
Maybe it's hidden in the remaining letters?
We have found:
1. Sun (R1, C1-3)
2. Waves (R8, C3-7)
3. Pineapple (R9, C1-9)
4. Beach (R7, C4-8)
5. Hot (C9, R2-4)
6. Water (C4, R1-5)
7. Play (C7, R2-5) -- Wait, R2C7 is P, R3C7 is L, R4C7 is A, R5C7 is Y. Yes.
8. Sand (C8, R3-6) -- R3C8 S, R4C8 A, R5C8 N, R6C8 D. Yes.
9. Shell (C2, R2-6) -- R2C2 S, R3C2 H, R4C2 E, R5C2 L, R6C2 L. Yes.
10. Sunblock (C1, R1-8) -- S,U,N,B,L,O,C,K. Yes.

Remaining words to find: Fun, Umbrella.

Let's look for Fun.
We haven't used Row 5, Col 6? `D`.
Row 6, Col 9? `F`.
Row 5, Col 9? `N`.
Row 4, Col 9? `T`.
Row 6, Col 9 is F. Row 5, Col 9 is N. Row 4, Col 9 is T.
What about Row 6, Col 9 (F), Row 5, Col 8 (N)... no.
Let's look at Row 6: `O L N B O T S D F`.
Let's look at Row 5: `L L W R R D Y N N`.
Let's look at Row 4: `B E N E U E A A T`.

Is "Fun" diagonal?
Let's check around the 'F' in Row 6, Col 9.
Up-Left from F(6,9): D(6,8), Y(5,7)... No.
Left from F: D, S... No.

Let's look for another 'F'.
Row 6, Col 9 is the only F I see clearly.
Wait, look at Row 6, Col 9 is F.
Look at Row 5, Col 8 is N.
Look at Row 4, Col 7 is A.

Let's re-read the grid for "Fun".
Maybe it's Umbrella first?
Letters needed: U M B R E L L A.
We have a 'U' at R1C8, R2C1, R4C5, R7C9, R8C2.
We have an 'M' at R7C3.
We have a 'B' at R2C3, R4C1, R6C4, R7C4.

Let's look at Row 7: `C A M B E A C H U`.
Let's look at Row 6: `O L N B O T S D F`.
Let's look at Row 5: `L L W R R D Y N N`.
Let's look at Row 4: `B E N E U E A A T`.

Is it possible "Fun" is part of a longer word I missed? No, it's a specific list.

Let's look at Column 6 again: `N I C E D T A E P`.
Column 5: `A E W U R O E V A`.

Let's look at Row 3: `N H T T W C L S O`.
Let's look at Row 2: `U S B A E I P L H`.

Wait, I might have misread a letter.
Let's look at Row 5, Col 6: `D`.
Row 5, Col 7: `Y`.
Row 5, Col 8: `N`.
Row 5, Col 9: `N`.

Let's look at Row 6, Col 6: `T`.
Row 6, Col 7: `S`.
Row 6, Col 8: `D`.
Row 6, Col 9: `F`.

Let's look at Row 4, Col 6: `E`.
Row 4, Col 7: `A`.
Row 4, Col 8: `A`.
Row 4, Col 9: `T`.

Let's look at Row 3, Col 6: `C`.
Row 3, Col 7: `L`.
Row 3, Col 8: `S`.
Row 3, Col 9: `O`.

Let's look at Row 2, Col 6: `I`.
Row 2, Col 7: `P`.
Row 2, Col 8: `L`.
Row 2, Col 9: `H`.

Let's look at Row 1, Col 6: `N`.
Row 1, Col 7: `P`.
Row 1, Col 8: `U`.
Row 1, Col 9: `A`.

Okay, I see FUN now!
Look at Column 9.
Row 6: F
Row 5: N
Row 4: T -- No.

Look at Column 6.
Row 6: T
Row 5: D

Look at Row 6. Ends in F.
Look at Row 5. Ends in N.
Look at Row 4. Ends in T.

Is there an F elsewhere?
Row 6, Col 9 is F.

Let's check Diagonals for Fun.
From F(6,9):
Up-Left: D(6,8), Y(5,7)... No.
Up: N(5,9). Up again: T(4,9).
Left: D(6,8). Left: S(6,7).

Maybe I missed an F.
Row 1: S U N W A N P U A
Row 2: U S B A E I P L H
Row 3: N H T T W C L S O
Row 4: B E N E U E A A T
Row 5: L L W R R D Y N N
Row 6: O L N B O T S D F
Row 7: C A M B E A C H U
Row 8: K U W A V E S C N
Row 9: P I N E A P P L E

There is only one F. It is at R6C9.
The letters around it are:
Above: N (R5C9)
Above-Left: Y (R5C8)
Left: D (R6C8)
Below: C (R7C9)
Below-Left: H (R7C8)

Wait, look at Row 5, Col 7 is Y. Row 5, Col 8 is N. Row 5, Col 9 is N.
Look at Row 4, Col 7 is A. Row 4, Col 8 is A. Row 4, Col 9 is T.

Is it possible "Fun" is spelled N-U-F backwards?
Row 5, Col 9 is N.
Row 4, Col 8 is A.

Let's look at Umbrella.
Letters: U M B R E L L A.
We found Sunblock, Shell, Sand, Play, Water, Hot, Beach, Pineapple, Waves, Sun.

Let's look for Umbrella again.
Maybe it's diagonal?
Start at U (R8C2).
Up-Right: W(R7C3)? No.
Right: W(R8C3).

Start at U (R7C9).
Left: H(R7C8).
Up: N(R6C9).

Start at U (R4C5).
Up-Right: C(R3C6).
Down-Right: O(R5C6).

Start at U (R1C8).
Down: L(R2C8).
Down: S(R3C8).
Down: A(R4C8).
Down: N(R5C8).
Down: D(R6C8).
Down: H(R7C8).
Down: C(R8C8).
Down: L(R9C8).
This column spells L S A N D H C L. We found SAND here.

Let's look at Column 7.
P(P1), P(P2), L(P3), A(P4), Y(P5), S(P6), C(P7), S(P8), P(P9).
We found PLAY here (P2-P5: P,L,A,Y? No. P2 is P, P3 is L, P4 is A, P5 is Y. Yes, PLAY is P2-P5).

Let's look at Column 5.
A(P1), E(P2), W(P3), U(P4), R(P5), O(P6), E(P7), V(P8), A(P9).
We found WATER here (P1-P5: W is P3? No. W is R3C4. Water was C4).
Col 5 is A,E,W,U,R...

Let's look at Column 4.
W(P1), A(P2), T(P3), E(P4), R(P5), B(P6), B(P7), A(P8), E(P9).
We found WATER here (P1-P5: W,A,T,E,R). Correct.

Let's look at Column 3.
N(P1), B(P2), T(P3), N(P4), W(P5), N(P6), M(P7), W(P8), N(P9).

Let's look at Column 2.
U(P1), S(P2), H(P3), E(P4), L(P5), L(P6), A(P7), U(P8), I(P9).
We found SHELL here (P2-P6: S,H,E,L,L). Correct.

Let's look at Column 1.
S(P1), U(P2), N(P3), B(P4), L(P5), O(P6), C(P7), K(P8), P(P9).
We found SUNBLOCK here (P1-P8: S,U,N,B,L,O,C,K). Correct.

So all verticals and horizontals seem accounted for except Fun and Umbrella.

Let's check diagonals.

Fun:
Look at R6C9 (F).
Look at R5C8 (N).
Look at R4C7 (A).

Look at R5C9 (N).
Look at R4C8 (A).
Look at R3C7 (L).

Look at R4C9 (T).
Look at R3C8 (S).

Is there an F anywhere else?
Scan grid for F.
R1: No.
R2: No.
R3: No.
R4: No.
R5: No.
R6: Yes, last letter.
R7: No.
R8: No.
R9: No.

If F is only at R6C9, Fun must involve that F.
Neighbors of F(6,9):
N(5,9) - Up
D(6,8) - Left
C(7,9) - Down
Y(5,8) - Up-Left
H(7,8) - Down-Left

None of these are U.
Wait, did I miss a letter in the grid transcription?
Row 6: `O L N B O T S D F`
Row 5: `L L W R R D Y N N`

Let's look at Umbrella.
U M B R E L L A.

Let's look at Row 7: `C A M B E A C H U`.
It contains M, B, E, A, U.
M is at C3.
B is at C4.
E is at C5.
A is at C6.
U is at C9.

Let's look at Row 8: `K U W A V E S C N`.

Let's look at Row 9: `P I N E A P P L E`.

Is it possible Umbrella is hidden in Column 8?
Col 8: U(P1), L(P2), S(P3), A(P4), N(P5), D(P6), H(P7), C(P8), L(P9).
No.

Is it possible Umbrella is hidden in Column 9?
Col 9: A(P1), H(P2), O(P3), T(P4), N(P5), F(P6), U(P7), N(P8), E(P9).

Let's look at Diagonal starting at U(7,9).
Up-Left: H(6,8)? No, H is 7,8.
U is at R7C9.
Up-Left is R6C8 (D).
Up-Left-Left is R5C7 (Y).

Let's look at Diagonal starting at U(8,2).
Up-Right: R7C3 (M).
Up-Right-Right: R6C4 (B).
Up-Right-Right-Right: R5C5 (R).
Up-Right-Right-Right-Right: R4C6 (E).
Up-Right-Right-Right-Right-Right: R3C7 (L).
Up-Right-Right-Right-Right-Right-Right: R2C8 (L).
Up-Right-Right-Right-Right-Right-Right-Right: R1C9 (A).

YES!
Umbrella is diagonal, starting at Row 8, Column 2, going Up and to the Right.
R8C2: U
R7C3: M
R6C4: B
R5C5: R
R4C6: E
R3C7: L
R2C8: L
R1C9: A

Now, what about Fun?
We have one letter left? Or did I miss it?
Let's check the remaining unused letters or small patterns.

We have found:
1. Sun (Horizontal)
2. Waves (Horizontal)
3. Pineapple (Horizontal)
4. Beach (Horizontal)
5. Sunblock (Vertical)
6. Shell (Vertical)
7. Sand (Vertical)
8. Play (Vertical)
9. Water (Vertical)
10. Hot (Vertical)
11. Umbrella (Diagonal)

Only Fun remains.

Let's look for F again.
R6C9 is F.
Let's look for U near it.
R7C9 is U? No, R7C9 is U.
Wait, R7C9 is U.
R6C9 is F.
R5C9 is N.

Look at Column 9, Rows 5-7:
R5C9: N
R6C9: F
R7C9: U

That spells N-F-U.
If we read it upwards from the bottom?
R7C9: U
R6C9: F
R5C9: N

Yes! Fun is in Column 9, Rows 7-5, reading Upwards (Bottom to Top).
U (Row 7)
F (Row 6)
N (Row 5)

Final Answer:
Here are the locations of all the summer words in the puzzle:

* Sun: Row 1, Columns 1–3 (Horizontal)
* Waves: Row 8, Columns 3–7 (Horizontal)
* Pineapple: Row 9, Columns 1–9 (Horizontal)
* Beach: Row 7, Columns 4–8 (Horizontal)
* Sunblock: Column 1, Rows 1–8 (Vertical, Top to Bottom)
* Shell: Column 2, Rows 2–6 (Vertical, Top to Bottom)
* Sand: Column 8, Rows 3–6 (Vertical, Top to Bottom)
* Play: Column 7, Rows 2–5 (Vertical, Top to Bottom)
* Water: Column 4, Rows 1–5 (Vertical, Top to Bottom)
* Hot: Column 9, Rows 2–4 (Vertical, Top to Bottom)
* Umbrella: Starts at Row 8, Column 2 and goes Diagonally Up-Right to Row 1, Column 9.
* Fun: Column 9, Rows 7–5 (Vertical, Bottom to Top)