Addition and Subtraction Word Problems Worksheets

Addition and subtraction word problems are the first stories that children turn into number sentences. The eight PDFs on this page have stories within 20 and within 100, with space to draw, and every sheet has an answer key. They follow standards 1.OA.A.1 and 2.OA.A.1 of the Common Core standards for grade 1 operations and algebraic thinking, and the notes below show the kinds of story that children meet, and how to teach each one.

Quick answer: Addition and subtraction word problems are short stories where children decide whether to add or subtract. The main types are add to, take from, put together, take apart and compare. This page has 8 free printable worksheets with answer keys for grades 1 and 2. Updated October 2026.

Types of stories

Addition stories join groups (“gets 5 more”). Subtraction stories take away (“gives 3 away”), compare (“how many more”) or find a missing part (“the rest are blue”). Mixing these types, as these sheets do, helps children think about the story instead of guessing from key words.

Addition and subtraction word problems worksheets: what is in the set

There are 8 addition and subtraction word problems worksheets on this page, and every one has an answer key except for any cut-out games. Four sheets are within 20 and four are within 100, and each set has joining stories or take-away, compare and missing part stories.

Addition and subtraction word problems: twelve kinds of story

Addition and subtraction word problems seem simple, but there are twelve different kinds of story, and some are much harder than others. The Common Core standards group them as add to, take from, put together or take apart, and compare, and each group has three versions in which a different part of the story is unknown. Wikipedia’s article on word problems explains why the position of the unknown matters so much. This table shows all twelve with the numbers 3, 5 and 8:

The same three numbers appear in every story, so every story uses the same fact family: 3 + 5 = 8, 5 + 3 = 8, 8 − 3 = 5 and 8 − 5 = 3. The stories with the unknown at the start are the hardest, because the first number in the story is not the first number in the number sentence. The worksheets on this page mix all of these kinds, so that children think about the story and not about one rule.

Addition word problems: join, put together and compare

The addition word problems on this page have stories where groups are joined, parts are put together, or one amount is found from another. In every case the answer is the total. When the total is known and the parts are not, the story is a take-apart story, and there is often more than one answer. This table shows how many ways each total from 5 to 12 can be split into two parts:

The eight crayons from the example can be split nine ways if the order counts, or five ways if red and blue are not told apart. Stories with several answers help children see that a number can be made in many ways, which is the idea behind the making 10 page.

Subtraction word problems: take away, compare and missing part

The subtraction word problems have three kinds of story: take away, compare and missing part. In all of them the answer is found by subtracting, or by adding up from the smaller number. It is tempting to use key words, such as “more” or “left”, to choose the operation, but key words can be wrong. This table shows five stories where the key word points to the wrong operation, or where there is no key word:

Drawing the story works every time, which is why every worksheet has space to draw. A child who draws a picture of the marbles knows that Sara has fewer than Tom, and so subtracts. The subtraction worksheets pages have the number facts that these stories use.

Word problems grade 1: what children need to know

For word problems grade 1, the standard is 1.OA.A.1. Children use objects, drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown to solve problems within 20 about adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart and comparing, with the unknown in any position. In plain words, children should be able to draw a story, write a number sentence with a box or a question mark, and say the answer in a sentence. This table lists five strategies that help:

The first two worksheets on this page use stories within 20. A child who knows the facts to 20 well, as taught in the addition within 20 page, can spend all their attention on the story.

Word problems within 20: how many facts are there?

Word problems within 20 use only the facts where the sum or the minuend is 20 or less. There are 231 addition facts a + b with a sum of 20 or less, counting each order, and 231 matching subtraction facts. This table shows how the numbers grow as the limit goes up:

Within 100 there are 5,151 addition facts, so no child learns them all by heart. That is why larger numbers need methods, such as adding tens and then ones, and why the second grade standard turns to place value. Every story within 20 uses just one of the 231 facts.

2nd grade word problems: stories within 100

The 2nd grade word problems use numbers up to 100, and the standard 2.OA.A.1 also includes two-step stories. In these problems the story can be simple, but the calculation needs regrouping. This table shows six problems from the worksheets of this kind, with the answer and whether the ones need regrouping:

Regrouping is a separate skill from the story, and the 2-digit subtraction with regrouping page practices it. If a child finds the story hard, give them a version with numbers within 20, and if the calculation is hard, give them a version with easy numbers.

Common mistakes with addition and subtraction word problems

The most common mistake is to use a key word to choose the operation. This table shows five mistakes, what went wrong and the fix:

Addition and subtraction word problems word problems

Story problems use the facts that children know. Ask them to draw the story, write a number sentence, and say the answer in a sentence:

Games and activities for addition and subtraction word problems

Children learn addition and subtraction word problems best when they play with it. These games use things that are found at home or in a classroom:

• Act it out: use counters or toys to act out a story, and write the number sentence
• Story cards: draw a card with two numbers and make up a story that joins or takes away
• Draw and solve: give a story and ask for a picture before any numbers
• Same numbers, new story: write a joining story and a take-away story that use the same three numbers
• Find the unknown: write a story with the unknown at the start, and swap with a partner
• Word problem bingo: a bingo card with answers, and calling cards with stories

Extra support and extra challenge with addition and subtraction word problems

For children who need more support: start with stories within 10 and real objects. Read the story aloud, act it out with counters, and then draw it. Use only one kind of story at a time at first, and use the answer key to check the picture, not only the answer. Never ask the child to look for key words.

For children who need more challenge: ask for a story with the unknown at the start, for two different stories that use the same number sentence, and for a two-step story such as 25 birds, 8 fly away and 6 more come. Making up stories for a number sentence, and trading them with a friend, is a good challenge.

How to tell that a child is ready to move on from addition and subtraction word problems

Before moving on from addition and subtraction word problems, check that the child can do all four of these things:

1. The child draws a picture that matches the story.
2. The child writes a number sentence with a box for the unknown.
3. The child solves joining, take-away, compare and missing part stories.
4. The child says the answer in a sentence and checks that it makes sense.

When all four are true, move on to the multiplication and division word problems page, or the two-step word problems page.

A 20-minute lesson on addition and subtraction word problems

A short lesson is the best way to introduce addition and subtraction word problems. This 20-minute plan can be used in a classroom, at a tutoring session or at home, and it uses the worksheets at the end:

Where addition and subtraction word problems fits across the grades

No skill stands alone. This table shows what children learn before and after addition and subtraction word problems, with the standard that goes with each step:

This page is the start of the word problem sequence. The whole sequence is on the math word problems worksheets page.

Helping at home with addition and subtraction word problems

Parents do not need to be experts to help with addition and subtraction word problems. These suggestions work well, and each takes only a few minutes:

• Make up stories at the dinner table: “I had 12 peas and ate 5”.
• Ask the child to draw the story before solving it.
• Use toys or snacks as counters.
• Ask “what is unknown?” rather than “is it plus or minus?”.
• Check the answer by saying it in a sentence.

How to check progress in addition and subtraction word problems

A teacher or parent can check progress in addition and subtraction word problems with the answer key and a few questions. This table shows three common situations, what they mean and what to do next:

A five-day plan for addition and subtraction word problems

Most children need about a week of short sessions for addition and subtraction word problems. This plan follows the order of the worksheets on this page:

When the plan for addition and subtraction word problems is complete, move on to the multiplication and division word problems page. The whole sequence is on the math word problems worksheets page.

Types of addition and subtraction word problems

The Common Core grade 1 operations and algebraic thinking standards name the kinds of story a child should solve. The same numbers, 8, 5 and 13, can appear in all of them:

Notice that a compare problem uses subtraction, even though there is no taking away in the story. That is why addition or subtraction word problems need reading, not just keyword spotting.

Adding and subtracting word problems, mixed and two-step

This page is also searched as adding and subtracting word problems, addition subtraction word problems, word problems with addition and subtraction, mixed addition and subtraction word problems and addition and subtraction word problems 3rd grade. Mixed addition and subtraction word problems ask children to choose the operation, which is the real skill. A two-step problem, such as 2 step addition word problems, needs two operations: Sam had 8 stickers, got 5 more, then gave 4 away. For bigger numbers, try addition and subtraction word problems within 100 and adding and subtracting with regrouping word problems once children can solve the problems in the table. Use the multiplication and division word problems page for multiplication and division stories.