Multiplication and Division Word Problems Worksheets

Multiplication and division word problems are the first stories in which children meet equal groups. The five PDFs on this page have stories about equal groups, arrays, sharing and grouping, with 2-digit numbers on one sheet, and every sheet has an answer key. They follow standard 3.OA.A.3 of the Common Core standards for grade 3 operations and algebraic thinking, and the notes below show the kinds of story, how sharing and grouping differ and what to do with what is left over.

Quick answer: Multiplication and division word problems are stories about equal groups, arrays and comparisons: the key is to decide whether the product, the group size or the number of groups is unknown. This page has 5 free printable worksheets with answer keys for grades 3 and 4. Updated October 2026.

Equal groups, both ways

Multiplication stories give the number of groups and the size of each group, and ask for the total. Division stories give the total and ask either how many in each group (sharing) or how many groups (grouping). Seeing both on the same page helps children notice that they are the same situation read in different directions.

Multiplication and division word problems worksheets: what is in the set

There are 5 multiplication and division word problems worksheets on this page, and every one has an answer key except for any cut-out games. Three sheets are multiplication stories with equal groups and arrays, and two sheets are division stories about sharing and grouping.

Equal groups word problems: nine kinds of story

The equal groups word problems have three main settings: equal groups, arrays and comparisons. In each setting, there are three kinds of story, depending on which of the three numbers is unknown: the total, the size of each group, or the number of groups. The Common Core standards describe all nine. Wikipedia’s article on word problems explains why children find some kinds much harder than others. This table shows the nine kinds with the numbers 3, 6 and 18:

The three numbers 3, 6 and 18 appear in every story, so every story belongs to the fact family 3 × 6 = 18, 6 × 3 = 18, 18 ÷ 3 = 6 and 18 ÷ 6 = 3. Children who see the same fact family in nine different stories begin to understand that multiplication and division are two ways of looking at the same situation.

Multiplication word problems: equal groups and arrays

The multiplication word problems in this pack ask for the total when the number of groups and the size of each group are known. A group can be a bag, a row or a pack, and children draw the groups and then count or multiply. The idea is the same as in the multiplication arrays and equal groups page: a multiplication sentence is a short way to write repeated addition. 5 bags of 6 apples is 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 30, or 5 × 6 = 30. The times tables worksheets page has the facts, and the multiplication worksheets pages have more practice.

The worksheet with bigger numbers has a 2-digit number in each story, such as 8 rows of 12 seats. Children can find 8 × 12 by splitting 12 into 10 and 2: 8 × 10 = 80 and 8 × 2 = 16, so 96.

Division word problems: sharing and grouping

The division word problems have two kinds of story, which look different but use the same number sentence. In a sharing story, the total and the number of groups are known, and the size of each group is the answer. In a grouping story, the total and the size of each group are known, and the number of groups is the answer. This table shows six totals both ways:

The answers are the same, since the two kinds of story use the same fact family. The division as sharing and equal groups page has pictures of both kinds. When children see that 24 ÷ 4 can mean “24 shared among 4” or “24 put in fours”, they find it easier to choose a picture for any division story.

Sharing word problems: how many ways can a total be shared?

The sharing word problems always have a total that can be shared evenly, so that the answer is a whole number. Not all totals can be shared in many ways. A total with many divisors can be shared in many ways, and a prime number can be shared in only two. This table shows six totals and all the ways to make equal groups:

The number 24 can be shared eight ways, which is why packs of 24 are so common, and 36 can be shared nine ways. A good activity is to give children 24 counters and ask them to find every way to make equal groups.

Division word problems with remainders: what is left over?

Some division word problems do not come out exactly, and children must decide what to do with what is left. If 20 apples are put in bags of 6, there are 3 full bags and 2 apples left over. If the question is “how many bags can be filled?”, the answer is 3. If it is “how many bags are needed to hold all the apples?”, the answer is 4. This table shows six problems:

Standard 4.OA.A.3 asks children to interpret remainders, and the division with remainders page explains the idea. The worksheets on this page use totals that divide exactly, so that children can concentrate on choosing the operation.

Word problems grade 3: the standard 3.OA.A.3

For word problems grade 3, the standard is 3.OA.A.3. Children use multiplication and division within 100 to solve stories about equal groups, arrays and measurement quantities, with drawings and equations that use a symbol for the unknown. The numbers in the problems are within 100, and the Common Core standards for grade 4 operations and algebraic thinking describe the next step, multiplicative comparison, in standard 4.OA.A.1 and 4.OA.A.2. This table shows how to choose the operation from what is known:

It is useful to ask children to say what they know and what they want to find before they choose an operation. This works better than key words, which can be wrong, as the next table shows:

Common mistakes with multiplication and division word problems

The most common mistake is to add the two numbers in a multiplication story. This table shows five mistakes, what went wrong and the fix:

Multiplication and division word problems word problems

Multiplication and division stories use bags, rows and packs. Ask children to draw the groups, write a number sentence and say what the answer counts:

Games and activities for multiplication and division word problems

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

• Group it: use 24 counters, and find all the ways to make equal groups
• Row builder: build arrays with 12 cubes and write the multiplication sentence for each
• Story cards: draw three number cards and make up a multiplication story and a division story
• Pack and share: share 30 stickers among 5 friends, and then put them in packs of 5
• Times as many: make a bar that is 3 times as long as a strip of paper, and write the sentence
• Word problem bingo: a bingo card with answers, and calling cards with stories

Extra support and extra challenge with multiplication and division word problems

For children who need more support: use real counters and make the groups with the child. Say each story aloud as “how many groups? how many in each?” and draw the groups before writing a number sentence. Do multiplication stories first and division stories later, and use the answer key to check the picture.

For children who need more challenge: ask for a story that fits 7 × 8, for two stories that fit 56 ÷ 7 (one sharing and one grouping), and for a story with a remainder that has to be rounded up. The sheet with 2-digit numbers and the comparison stories are good challenges.

How to tell that a child is ready to move on from multiplication and division word problems

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

1. The child draws equal groups or an array for a story.
2. The child chooses to multiply or divide, and says why.
3. The child tells a sharing story from a grouping story.
4. The child checks the answer with the opposite operation.

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

A 20-minute lesson on multiplication and division word problems

A short lesson is the best way to introduce multiplication and division 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 multiplication and division word problems fits across the grades

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

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

Helping at home with multiplication and division word problems

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

• Ask about groups in real life: “how many wheels on 4 cars?”.
• Share snacks equally and ask “how many each?”.
• Ask the child to draw the groups before writing a sentence.
• Look at a muffin tray, an egg carton or a window: they are arrays.
• Check an answer with the opposite operation.

How to check progress in multiplication and division word problems

A teacher or parent can check progress in multiplication and division 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 multiplication and division word problems

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

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

Types of multiplication and division word problems

The Common Core grade 3 standards ask children to solve problems with equal groups, arrays and measurement quantities. The same numbers, 4, 6 and 24, fit every type below, which shows why the question matters more than the numbers: