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Grade 2 students step into a new phase of math when they begin solving addition and subtraction word problems with two-digit numbers. Unlike first grade, where second graders worked mostly within 20 and relied on pictures, second grade asks them to read carefully, decide which operation to use, and compute accurately with numbers up to 100. This skill matters because real-world math almost always arrives wrapped in words, from counting change to tracking scores.

Two common stumbling blocks slow learners down: misreading signal words like 'fewer,' 'left,' or 'in all,' and rushing into computation before identifying what the question actually asks.

Our worksheets guide second graders through sorting story problems, matching number sentences, comparing quantities, and tackling multi-step challenges. These activities build the bridge between Grade 1's simple join-and-separate stories and Grade 3's multiplication and division word problems, where careful reading and clear strategy become even more essential for confident, accurate problem solvers.

Worksheet Preview

Browse all 12 printable worksheets below — click any card to open the full page.

Easy
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Sort the Words
Sort each word or number into the correct category box.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Sara has 12 apples. She gets 8 more. She has  
2. Tom had 25 crayons. He lost 9. He has  
3. Key words like 'more,' 'added,' and 'in all' signal  
4. Key words like 'left,' 'fewer,' and 'gave away' signal  
5. A number sentence uses numbers and  
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. The word 'total' signals an addition problem.
T F
2. 20 − 8 = 13.
T F
3. The word 'fewer' signals a subtraction problem.
T F
4. 14 + 5 = 19.
T F

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Easy
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Sort the Words
Sort each word or number into the correct category box.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. There are 35 students. 12 go home early.  
2. A store has 47 shirts. They sell 28. They have  
3. Ben has 36 marbles. He wins 14 more. He has  
4. There are 60 seats. 25 are filled.  
5. The word ' 
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. 35 + 28 = 63.
T F
2. 47 − 28 = 19.
T F
3. 'How many are left?' signals addition.
T F
4. 60 − 25 = 45.
T F

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Easy
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Sort the Words
Sort each word or number into the correct category box.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Mia has 23 buttons. She finds 18 more. She has  
2. A tank has 47 fish. 19 are scooped out.  
3. The word 'altogether' tells you to use  
4. The word 'remain' tells you to use  
5. In the problem '35 + 26,' the answer is called the  
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. The word 'altogether' signals addition.
T F
2. 47 − 19 = 26.
T F
3. 23 + 18 = 41.
T F
4. The word 'spent' signals addition.
T F

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Easy
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Sort the Words
Sort each word or number into the correct category box.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Owen scored 26 points then 38 more. He scored  
2. Kira had 55 marbles. She lost 29. She has  
3. When you combine two groups, you use  
4. When you take away from a group, you use  
5. In the problem '55 − 29,' the answer is called the  
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. 26 + 38 = 64.
T F
2. The word 'returned' signals addition.
T F
3. 55 − 29 = 24.
T F
4. The word 'arrive' signals addition.
T F

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Medium
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Amy has 32 beads. She buys 19 more. She has  
2. A farm has 56 chickens. 24 run away.  
3. Raj had 41 cards. He found 38 more. He has  
4. There are 73 books on a shelf. 45 are taken.  
5. A pond has 28 fish. 34 more swim in. Now there are  
6. Ella picked 65 flowers. She gave 37 away. She has  
7. A box holds 17 red balls and 46 blue balls. It holds  
8. Dad had 80 nails. He used 52. He has  
9. Luis ate 15 grapes. Then he ate 26 more. He ate  
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Sara has 45 stickers. She gives 18 away.
→
27 + 35 = 62
A class has 27 boys and 35 girls.
→
48 + 34 = 82
Max had 63 coins. He spent 29.
→
45 − 18 = 27
Lily read 48 pages then read 34 more.
→
63 − 29 = 34

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Medium
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Kim has 34 stamps. Jo has 21 stamps. Kim has  
2. A shelf has 58 books. Another has 27. Together they have  
3. Dan scored 43 points. Pam scored 29. Dan scored  
4. There were 75 apples. 38 were eaten.  
5. Meg ran 26 laps on Monday and 35 laps on Tuesday. She ran  
6. A box has 50 crayons. 14 are broken.  
7. Team A has 42 fans. Team B has 39 fans. Team A has  
8. A baker made 48 muffins. He sold 19. He has  
9. Eva read 33 pages on Saturday and 47 on Sunday. She read  
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Finding how many more one person has
→
Add the two amounts
Combining two groups to find a total
→
Subtract the smaller from the larger
Finding how many are left after some leave
→
Subtract what left from the start
Finding how many fewer one set has
→
Subtract to compare the two sets

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Medium
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A store has 43 hats. It gets 29 more. Now it has  
2. Nora had 81 beads. She used 36. She has  
3. A bus has 27 passengers. 34 more get on. Now there are  
4. Zach had 95 coins. He spent 48. He has  
5. A box has 38 red crayons and 45 blue crayons. It has  
6. The library had 74 books. Students borrowed 39.  
7. Kim picked 56 berries. She picked 27 more. She has  
8. A basket has 62 eggs. 35 crack.  
9. Jon has 19 toy cars and 54 toy trucks. He has  
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
A store has 43 hats. It gets 29 more.
→
27 + 34 = 61
Nora had 81 beads. She used 36.
→
95 − 48 = 47
A bus has 27 passengers. 34 more get on.
→
43 + 29 = 72
Zach had 95 coins. He spent 48.
→
81 − 36 = 45

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Medium
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A farmer has 36 cows. He buys 47 more. He now has  
2. Tina had 72 stickers. She gave 38 away. She has  
3. A shelf has 48 books. 25 more are added. The shelf now has  
4. There were 87 leaves. The wind blew 59 away.  
5. Carlos has 44 toy cars and 39 toy planes. He has  
6. A pool had 66 swimmers. 28 got out.  
7. Maya baked 53 cookies. Then she baked 29 more. She baked  
8. A jar has 91 candies. Kids took 56.  
9. Ali walked 37 steps. Then he walked 46 more. He walked  
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
A farmer has 36 cows. He buys 47 more.
→
48 + 25 = 73
Tina had 72 stickers. She gave 38 away.
→
87 − 59 = 28
A shelf has 48 books. 25 more are added.
→
36 + 47 = 83
There were 87 leaves. The wind blew 59 away.
→
72 − 38 = 34

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Hard
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. There are 54 students. 27 get on Bus A. 15 get on Bus B. How many students are left?
2. A jar has 38 red marbles and 25 blue marbles. Sam takes out 14. How many marbles are in the jar now?
3. Lena had 72 stickers. She gave 28 to Rosa and 19 to Tom. How many stickers does Lena have left?
4. A store had 90 toys. They sold 36 in the morning and 27 in the afternoon. How many toys are left?
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Kai has 46 stamps. He buys 35 more and gives 18 away. He has  
2. A tree had 84 leaves. Wind blew 39 off.  
3. Ava had 55 beads. She lost 28 and found 13. She has  
4. A pond has 67 fish. 24 swim away and 11 come back. Now there are  
5. Ben picked 31 apples and 42 oranges. He ate 18 fruits. He has  

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Hard
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A library had 85 books. Students returned 23 books and borrowed 41 books. How many books are in the library now?
2. Emma baked 30 cookies. She gave 12 to her neighbor and 9 to her brother. How many cookies does Emma have left?
3. A bus has 48 seats. 29 people are sitting and 13 are standing in the aisle. How many empty seats are there?
4. Mia collected 37 shells on Monday and 26 on Tuesday. She lost 15 shells on Wednesday. How many shells does she have?
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A garden has 53 roses. The gardener plants 28 more and picks 34. Now there are  
2. Jay had 70 baseball cards. He traded 25 away and got 16 new ones. He has  
3. A zoo has 44 birds and 38 reptiles. 19 animals are moved out.  
4. There are 62 kids at a park. 27 leave and 15 more arrive. Now there are  
5. Sam had 95 cents. He spent 46 cents and found 21 cents. He has  

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Hard
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A bakery made 48 muffins. It sold 19 in the morning and 13 in the afternoon. How many muffins are left?
2. Mia has 35 red beads and 28 blue beads. She gives 17 beads to her friend. How many beads does Mia have now?
3. A parking lot had 76 cars. 32 drove away and then 15 more arrived. How many cars are there now?
4. Pedro picked 42 oranges and 31 lemons. He put 56 fruits in a basket. How many fruits are not in the basket?
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A garden has 53 flowers. 24 are cut and 18 new ones bloom. Now there are  
2. Ryan had 87 trading cards. He gave 35 to Sam. He has  
3. A train had 64 passengers. 28 got off and 19 got on. Now there are  
4. Luna had 45 crayons. She bought 36 more and broke 12. She has  
5. A shelf had 73 books. 29 were borrowed and 16 were returned. Now there are  

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Hard
Busy Bee
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 2
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A toy shop had 85 stuffed animals. It sold 37 on Monday and 21 on Tuesday. How many stuffed animals are left?
2. Emma collected 29 seashells. She found 34 more at the beach and gave 18 to her brother. How many seashells does Emma have?
3. A farmer had 68 apples. He gave 25 to a neighbor and picked 19 more. How many apples does the farmer have?
4. There were 91 balloons at a party. 44 popped and 12 flew away. How many balloons are left?
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A pond had 58 frogs. 22 hopped away and 14 jumped in. Now there are  
2. Jade had 76 stickers. She traded 31 for new ones and got 18 back. She has  
3. A camp had 47 tents. 15 were taken down and 23 new ones were set up. Now there are  
4. Ben scored 38 points in round one and 45 in round two. He lost 26 penalty points. His final score is  
5. A school had 82 chairs. 36 were moved to the gym and 19 were brought from storage. Now there are  

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems

What's Included in This Download

12 Printable Pages covering addition & subtraction word problems
Complete Answer Key for easy grading
Printer-Friendly Format in black & white
Variety of Activities to keep kids engaged
Common Core Aligned grade 2 standards
Instant PDF Download - no signup required

What You'll Learn

These addition & subtraction word problems worksheets help grade 2 students develop essential math skills through engaging activities.

Learning Objectives

  • Addition Problems: Solve one-step addition word problems within 100
  • Subtraction Problems: Solve one-step subtraction word problems within 100
  • Identify Operation: Determine whether a problem requires adding or subtracting
  • Write Equations: Translate word problems into number sentences
  • Check Answers: Verify solutions using inverse operations or estimation

Skills Covered

Word ProblemsAdditionSubtractionProblem SolvingNumber SentencesGrade 2 Math

How to Use These Worksheets

  1. Download & Print: Click the download button to get the PDF. Print on standard 8.5" x 11" paper.
  2. Start Simple: Begin with easier pages before moving to more challenging activities.
  3. Daily Practice: Dedicate 10-15 minutes each day for consistent learning.
  4. Use Manipulatives: Pair worksheets with physical objects like blocks or counters.
  5. Provide Encouragement: Celebrate progress and effort to build confidence.
  6. Check Progress: Use the included answer key to review work together.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

  • Adding when they should subtract because they spotted a number but ignored signal words like 'fewer,' 'left,' or 'gave away' that point to subtraction.
  • Stopping after the first step in a multi-step problem, such as adding two groups but forgetting to subtract what was taken away afterward.
  • Making place-value errors when regrouping two-digit numbers, like writing 12 in the ones column instead of carrying the ten over to the tens place.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I help my child decide whether a word problem is addition or subtraction?

Teach your child to circle signal words first. Words like 'altogether,' 'in all,' and 'more' usually mean add, while 'left,' 'fewer,' and 'take away' usually mean subtract. Then have them retell the story in their own words before picking an operation. This slows them down and prevents guessing based only on the numbers.

What size numbers should second graders handle in word problems?

Grade 2 word problems typically use numbers within 100. Children should be comfortable adding and subtracting two-digit numbers, including problems that require regrouping. Our worksheets stay in this range, mixing easier sums under 50 with harder ones up to 100, so kids build fluency without feeling overwhelmed.

Why are multi-step word problems important in second grade?

Multi-step problems teach kids to plan and hold information in their heads. Instead of one quick calculation, they must figure out the order of operations and check that each step makes sense. This builds the reasoning skills they'll need for Grade 3 multiplication stories and beyond, where problems get longer and more layered.

My child can compute well but struggles with word problems. What should we do?

Strong computation is half the battle. The other half is reading comprehension. Practice by reading the problem aloud together, drawing a quick picture, and asking 'What is the question?' before touching numbers. Our sorting and matching activities are designed exactly for this: they separate the thinking step from the calculating step.

How can I make word problem practice less frustrating at home?

Use stories from your child's real life, like sharing snacks or counting toys, and keep sessions short. Celebrate the thinking process, not just the answer. Let your child explain how they solved it, even if they made a mistake. The fill-in-the-blank and true-or-false sheets work well as low-pressure warm-ups before harder challenges.

Are these worksheets really free?

Yes! All our worksheets are 100% free to download and print. There's no subscription, no hidden fees, and no registration required.

Can I use these in my classroom?

Absolutely! Teachers are welcome to print and use these worksheets in their classrooms. Make as many copies as needed for your students.

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