We propose a versatile approach for generating multipartite W states in predesigned on-chip multiport photonic lattices. It is shown that is possible to produce photon-encoded W states where exactly one photon is coherently “shared” among N optical modes by judiciously adjusting the coupling coefficients involved in one-dimensional arrays of evanescently coupled single-mode waveguides. Two-dimensional waveguide configurations are also investigated as possible avenues to produce W states with equal probability amplitudes and equal relative phases.