Build a worksheet →

Grade 3 two-step word problems worksheets

3.OA.D.8 Word problems

Printable two-step word problems worksheets for grade 3, aligned to Common Core standard 3.OA.D.8. Multiply, then add or subtract.

Make a worksheet on this skill

Free, instant, no signup. Choose 5–40 problems, three difficulty levels, and a printable answer key.

Sample problems

  1. Ava buys 2 packs of muffins with 3 in each pack. She already had 3. How many does she have now? 9
  2. Ava buys 6 packs of cards with 5 in each pack, then gives away 5. How many does she have left? 25
  3. Ava buys 7 packs of erasers with 4 in each pack. She already had 7. How many does she have now? 35
  4. Ava buys 9 packs of erasers with 9 in each pack, then gives away 23. How many does she have left? 58
  5. Ava buys 4 packs of pencils with 7 in each pack, then gives away 5. How many does she have left? 23
  6. Ava buys 3 packs of muffins with 9 in each pack. She already had 9. How many does she have now? 36
  7. Ava buys 7 packs of erasers with 5 in each pack. She already had 16. How many does she have now? 51
  8. Ava buys 3 packs of muffins with 6 in each pack. She already had 5. How many does she have now? 23

These eight are one sample at medium difficulty — the generator makes a different set every time.

A worked example

Ava buys 2 packs of muffins with 3 in each pack. She already had 3. How many does she have now? 9

  1. First find how many she bought: 2 × 3 = 6
  2. Then add the ones she had: 6 + 3 = 9

Every problem on the answer key can show its steps like this — turn on “Show steps” before downloading.

About these worksheets

The wording stays familiar while the numbers change, which is what makes the method stick rather than the answer. Every sheet is generated fresh, so you can print a new one on the same skill as often as you need — different numbers, same difficulty.

Pick how many problems you want and whether they should be easy, medium or hard, then download a PDF with a matching answer key. The key can show the worked steps for every problem, which is what a parent needs to see where a wrong answer went wrong.

More grade 3 worksheets

Number and operations

Fractions and decimals

Measurement and geometry

Word problems

All 19 grade 3 skills