1st grade subtraction word problems worksheets

Subtraction word problems for grade 1 tell a short story where a group gets smaller: ducks fly off, or a few cookies get eaten. The take from type leads, with simple 'how many more' comparisons mixed in, and every number stays within 20, the range 1.OA.A.1 asks for. You might know them as story problems. The name changes, the skill doesn't.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core 1.OA.A.1.

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The kind of problems you'll get

Read each problem. Show your work and write the answer.

  1. Sarah had 5 crayons. Sarah gave 2 crayons to Rosa. How many crayons does Sarah have left?

    Answer: 3

  2. Noah has 20 blocks. Ania has 4 blocks. How many more blocks does Noah have?

    Answer: 16

  3. Ibrahim had 14 balloons. Then 7 balloons popped. How many balloons are still full?

    Answer: 7

Every print pulls a fresh set of problems at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.

What's on each sheet

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key after the problems.

How to teach this

Act the story out before reaching for numbers. Nine crackers on a plate, four eaten, count what remains. When your child can show a story with objects, ask for the same problem with fingers, then with just the numbers. Keep the question in their own words. "How many are left" or "who has more" tells them exactly what to look for.

Watch for: 'How many more' sounds like adding, so kids add the two amounts in compare problems. Line the amounts up as two rows of counters and ask what the extra part of the longer row shows. Kids subtract the small digit from the big one in each column, so 52 - 18 becomes 46. Have them check by adding back: 46 + 18 gives 64, not 52, so something slipped. Kids answer with the number that went away instead of what is left. Have them point at the exact words the question asks about before writing anything.

Common questions about subtraction word problems

What kind of subtraction problems does 1st grade use?
Take from stories, plus gentle compare questions like 'how many more'. Numbers stay within 20, matching 1.OA.A.1, and each problem is two or three sentences long.
How many problems come on a sheet?
Five per page, each with room to show work and an answer line. Print again and the stories change, but the code in the footer brings back the exact same sheet if you ever need a copy.

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Aligned to Common Core 1.OA.A.1. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 240, updated September 2026.

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