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30 Printable Crossword Puzzles

Updated Apr. 11, 2024

How many answers can you get correct on these printable crossword puzzles?

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Test your brain with these tricky crossword puzzles

What’s a nine-letter word for a tricky word puzzle that exercises the mind? That’s right: crossword! Like challenging riddles and visual brainteasers, crossword puzzles are a great way to keep your mind sharp. We’ve collected a number of the puzzles that run in the large-print edition of Reader’s Digest every month. Give these printable crossword puzzles a try and then come back to see how many answers you got correct.

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Charles Dickens
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December 2023/January 2024 printable crossword puzzle

Charles Dickens wrote what is arguably the most famous Yuletide story, A Christmas Carol. But that’s just the tip of his literary iceberg. The titles of four other Dickens classics appear in this month’s brainteasing crossword puzzle.

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December 2023 January 2024 Printable Crossword Answer
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Crossword puzzle answer: December 2023/January 2024

Jumble of Tiny Word Blocks
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November 2023 printable crossword puzzle

In this month’s puzzle, a handful of familiar phrases are presented anew—with a twist. Once you determine that twist, answers will fall into place more easily.

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November 2023 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: November 2023

gold chain join chain
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October 2023 printable crossword puzzle

The link between the seven themed entries is obvious. But there is more here than meets the eye. Take a second look and find another connection.

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October 2023 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: October 2023

Little Women
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September 2023 printable crossword puzzle

The theme of this month’s puzzle is for you to determine. The long central entry at 21 Across ties the four other theme answers together.

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September 2023 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: September 2023

Close-up of old man ear and grey hair in bright sunlight
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July/August 2023 printable crossword puzzle

There are scores of common expressions that include parts of the body. For example, you can bend an ear, lend an ear, put your ear to the ground, play something by ear or eat an ear of corn. The five theme entries in our puzzle employ five body parts.

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July August 2023 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: July/August 2023

A male Eastern Meadowlark perched on a corn stalk
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June 2023 printable crossword puzzle

From writer Stephen Crane to actress Rhea Perlman and skateboard superstar Tony Hawk, bird names are ubiquitous. You’ll find five more in this month’s puzzle. We wanted to include Meadowlark Lemon, but it just has too many letters!

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June 2023 Printable Crossword Answer 1
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Crossword puzzle answer: June 2023

On the set of Halloween
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May 2023 printable crossword puzzle

We’re firm believers that you don’t have to wait until Oct. 31 to enjoy a good horror movie. Springtime screams are just as fun as Halloween thrills. We prefer the classics, though, and have included six in this month’s puzzle.

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May 2023 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: May 2023

Biden Hosts Irish PM For St. Patrick's Day Breakfast
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March/April 2023 printable crossword puzzle

We’ve all heard about George Washington’s wooden teeth and the (probably apocryphal) story of the cherry tree, but how much do we know about our vice presidents? For instance, who was the first Roman Catholic vice president? That would be Joe Biden. Below, you’ll find five more pieces of veep trivia, all about recent vice presidents (from the 20th and 21st centuries). One of these did go on to become POTUS…

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March 2023 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: March/April 2023

Canada geese in a public park, Nova Scotia, Canada
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February 2023 printable crossword puzzle

It was The Book of St. Albans in 1486 that first listed numerous imaginative names for collectives, such as a gaggle of geese and a diligence of messengers. In the intervening centuries, people have taken up this game with a prickle of hedgehogs, an exaggeration of fishermen and even more fun terms (murder of crows, anyone?). This month, we offer seven more playful collectives.

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Feb 2023 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: February 2023

'Spectre' German Premiere In Berlin
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December 2022/January 2023 printable crossword puzzle

Daniel Craig has announced that his most recent turn as James Bond will be his last. As of this writing, his successor has yet to be announced, though there is much speculation. This issue’s puzzle focuses on the pre-Craig Bonds. Can you identify them by film title and date?

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December 2022 January 2023 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: December 2022/January 2023

The Poseidon Adventure
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November 2022 printable crossword puzzle

Where were you in ’72? The Poseidon Adventure was on the big screen, All in the Family ruled the small and Mr. Coffee made his debut. A number of interesting news stories happened as well, some of which are mentioned in this month’s puzzle.

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November 2022 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: November 2022

Full Frame Shot Of Fallen Autumn Leaves
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October 2022 printable crossword puzzle

Look out the window. For many of us, the leaves are no longer green but are sporting a riot of colors. The answers in this month’s puzzle feature five of the colors most commonly thought of as fall colors.

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October 2022 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: October 2022

Variety of fresh green herbs on wooden table at home
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September 2022 printable crossword puzzle

What do actress Cicely Tyson, singer Rosemary Clooney and Pepper Potts, the character who runs Iron Man Tony Stark’s Stark Industries, have in common? Each has an herb (or a seasoning) in her name. You’ll find five similarly flavorful (or medicinal) names in this month’s puzzle.

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September 2022 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: September 2022

Honoree Misty Copeland speaks onstage during The Root 100 2023 at The Apollo Theater
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July/August 2022 printable crossword puzzle

This puzzle features a bit of uplifting advice from a person who is the embodiment of what she preaches. Your mission, should you decide to accept it: Solve the puzzle, read the quote, then heed the advice.

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July August 2022 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: July/August 2022

Hand holding , June word block in pink blackground
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June 2022 printable crossword puzzle

June is bursting forth all over—in this month’s puzzle, at least. Clues in bold include five famous Junes, with facts related to each in the grid. Did you know that prolific voice actress June Foray provided the voices of both Rocky the Flying Squirrel and his nemesis, Natasha Fatale?

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June 2022 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: June 2022

Merriam Dictionary
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May 2022 printable crossword puzzle

Last year, Merriam-Webster added 455 new words to its dictionary. Five of them are answers to the clues in bold below—and all are words that have been swirling around in the collective consciousness. Many new words are COVID-19-related, but we have avoided those. We want to be a super-spreader of fun only.

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May 2022 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: May 2022

april message in lightbox. Floral and gren bacground
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March/April 2022 printable crossword puzzle

April lends its name to many fictional characters, as well as to famous song and movie titles. There’s the movie Enchanted April, the song “April Showers” and the classic TV character April Dancer (The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.). You’ll find five other monthly entities in this issue’s puzzle.

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March April 2022 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: March/April 2022

Photo of Brady Bunch
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February 2022 printable crossword puzzle

Whatever your age, you likely have fond childhood memories of the sitcoms you grew up with, whether it’s Leave It to Beaver, The Brady Bunch or Modern Family. This month, we honor a handful of sitcom classics. All have stood the test of time; the most recent debuted in 1984. Solve to reminisce.

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Feb 2022 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: February 2022

Beautiful cookies assorted close-up. background horizontal top view
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December 2021/January 2022 printable crossword puzzle

Sample the tasty wordplay in this month’s puzzle. Here is your party invite from the baker: “Wheat love for you to join us.” Some entries are clever, while others are groaners, but none of them will add any inches to your waistline. Apply your brain to the subject of grain.

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Decemeber 2021 Jan 2022 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: December 2021/January 2022

Many childrens books on bookcase
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November 2021 printable crossword puzzle

We’ve played with the names of six famous figures from children’s stories in this month’s puzzle. Examples of tweaked names include the soft-spoken Little Miss Muffled, the lazy princess Sleep-in Beauty and the ungainly Prince Alarming. Think of those in the puzzle as the protagonists of some fractured fairy tales.

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November 2021 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: November 2021

Two coffee cup with face of man and woman together with heart on wooden table. Concept of happy Valentines day
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October 2021 printable crossword puzzle

Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson is known as Mr. October for his outstanding performances in multiple World Series. The only Mrs. October we could find is the title character in an obscure 1973 novel. This month’s puzzle contains seven famous people with Mr. and Mrs. in their names. Enjoy—perhaps while munching on some Mrs. Fields cookies or drinking a Mr. Pibb.

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October 2021 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: October 2021

Map of the Constellations of the Southern Hemisphere from The Celestial Atlas by Andreas Cellarius
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September 2021 printable crossword puzzle

Some say that our personalities are determined by the stars. In this month’s crossword, we imagine the sun signs of famous people—from literature, entertainment and history—based on their names. Could they be accurate? Solve and see.

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September 2021 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: September 2021

Close-up of old directional compass
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July/August 2021 printable crossword puzzle

The placement of the five theme entries in this month’s puzzle is significant, and once you deduce one of them, the others should be easier to surmise. Answers touch on science, geography, entertainment and holidays.

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July August 2021 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: July/August 2021

alphabet letters missing the L
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June 2021 printable crossword puzzle

The title of this month’s puzzle is Noel, but it has nothing to do with that December holiday. Deduce the reason for this title, and you’ll get a valuable hint in solving the puzzle. Or you can dive right in! The more solutions you reveal, the closer you’ll get to the common factor among the five theme answers.

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June 2021 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: June 2021

Ten Pound Dumbbells on Exercise Mat
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May 2021 printable crossword puzzle

The five theme answers in this month’s puzzle come from different categories of trivia, but they have one thing in common: All have a little extra weight attached. What that cryptic explanation means is for you to determine.

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May 2021 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: May 2021

Mission Dolores Park In San Francisco Encourages Social Distancing With Marked Circles
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April 2021 printable crossword puzzle

After 2020, we’re all very familiar with the term ­social distancing. The year also gave us sharents, a word for ­parents who love to brag about their undeniably terrific child by showing off pictures or videos. This month’s puzzle contains five coinages that popped up or rose to prominence in 2020.

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April 2021 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: April 2021

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament - First Four - Indiana
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March 2021 printable crossword puzzle

Aside from identifying the third month of the year,the word march is a verb, a noun and a proper name. There’s March Madness (most of which, ironically, occurs in April), the March Hare, the March of Dimes and more. You’ll find five very different marches in this month’s puzzle.

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March 2021 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: March 2021

Lightbox with inscription happy new year. Christmas. Festive background.
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February 2021 printable crossword puzzle

In honor of the new year, our puzzle pays tribute to new things: places, titles and a person. There are five altogether. To save space (and to make things a bit more challenging), the word new has been omitted from the answers.

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Feb 2021 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: February 2021

In this photo illustration, a Nike, Inc. logo is seen...
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December 2020/January 2021 printable crossword puzzle

You hear them once, twice or 20 times, and they stick in your head like earworms: They’re classic slogans! We’ve included eight in this month’s puzzle. That’s certainly a lot, but we know you can do it! As the Adidas slogan says, “Impossible is nothing.”

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Dec 2020 Jan 2021 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: December 2020/January 2021

Charles Schultz Works on a Strip
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November 2020 printable crossword puzzle

With the dwindling of daily newspapers, fewer people read the funnies these days. Still, some comic strips will always be classics, and you’ll find five in this month’s puzzle.

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November 2020 Printable Crossword Answers
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Crossword puzzle answer: November 2020

Reader's digest dec 2023 - jan 2024 cover

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Reader’s Digest is known for humor and brain games, including quizzes, puzzles, riddles, word games, trivia, math, pattern and logic puzzles, guessing games, crosswords, rebus, hidden objects and spot-the-difference challenges. We’ve earned prestigious ASME awards for our entertainment content and have produced dozens of brainteaser books, including Word Searches, Word Power, Use Your Words, Fun Puzzles and Brain Ticklers, Mind Stretchers, Ultimate Christmas Puzzles and more. Our 10 published volumes of Mind Stretchers were edited by Allen D. Bragdon, founder of the Brainwaves Center and editor of Games magazine. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.