Subtraction word problems worksheets
20 subtraction word problems for grades 1 to 3: taking away, comparing and missing-part stories, then 2-digit, 3-digit and two-step problems.
Download the free subtraction word problems worksheet (PDF)
Subtraction word problems worksheet
What’s on the worksheet
- 20 questions on subtraction word problems, sized for US Letter paper
- 2 pages of questions plus an answer key on the last page
- Written for grades 1–3, matching Common Core 1.OA.A.1, 2.OA.A.1, 3.OA.D.8
- Name and date lines at the top, and room to show the work
Sample questions from this worksheet
- There are 8 ducks on a pond. 3 fly away. How many ducks are left? Number sentence:
- Ana has 12 balloons. 5 pop. How many balloons are left? Number sentence:
- Answer: Leo has 52 cards. His sister has
- How many fewer cards does she have? Number sentence:
- Answer: A shop had 46 apples. It sold
- How many apples are left? Number sentence:
Preview the worksheet and answer key
Make a new subtraction word problems worksheet
Need another page for extra practice, a retake or a second group in class? The free Mathify Kids test maker builds a fresh subtraction word problems worksheet with different numbers every time. Choose how many questions, print it with its own answer key, or let your child take it on screen and see the score straight away.
Subtraction word problems: a worked example (14 stickers and 9 stickers)
- Find what is being asked: how many more stickers Raj has.
- It compares two amounts, so subtract.
- 14 − 9 = 5 stickers.
What each part practices
- Part A (questions 1–10): Small stories within 20 of every type: taking away, comparing (how many more), missing parts and a start-unknown story.
- Part B (11–20): 2-digit and 3-digit stories, money and measures, and two-step problems where two amounts are taken away.
The answer key on the last page lists every answer in order, so a grown-up or an older child can mark the sheet in a couple of minutes.
How to use it at home and in class
At home
Ask your child to draw a quick bar model for each story before writing the number sentence. Ten problems a day works better than a whole sheet at once. Mark them together with the answer key, then ask your child to explain one they got wrong: finding the mistake themselves is where the learning happens.
In class
Use the first row as a warm-up, a full page for independent practice, or five questions as an exit ticket. For a retake or a second group, make a new version with the test maker so every child gets different numbers.
Mistakes to watch for
- Adding because the story says “more”.
- Writing the answer without the unit (5 what?).
What to practice before and after subtraction word problems
- Before: subtracting across zeros. If this sheet is a struggle, go back a step.
- After: number bonds, once this one is mostly right.
- Learn it first: the subtraction word problems lesson.
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Questions parents ask
How do I help my child with subtraction word problems?
Read each problem twice, draw it, decide whether something is taken away, compared or missing, then write the number sentence and a full answer.
What grade is this subtraction word problems worksheet for?
It is written for grades 1–3 and matches Common Core standards 1.OA.A.1, 2.OA.A.1, 3.OA.D.8.
Can I get a different version of this subtraction word problems worksheet?
Yes. Use the free Mathify Kids test maker to make a new subtraction word problems worksheet with different numbers every time, with its own answer key.