Grade 1 Word Problems: Missing-number word problems

Generate a printable Grade 1 word problems worksheet for this skill. Change the difficulty, layout or problem count below, then print the worksheet or its answer key.

What students practice: One-step add/subtract story problems within 20, including unknown-position problems.

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What to practice

GradeDifficulty

OperationSkillThemeChanges the story setting only — the math stays the same.

Worksheet options

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Worksheet preview — matches what “Print worksheet” produces.Grade 1 · Word Problems · Missing-number word problems · Standard

Grade 1 · Word Problems

Missing-Number Word Problems

Name: Class: Date:

Set 1 · Grade 1 · Word Problems

Example problems by difficulty

Real samples from this generator. Every worksheet is a fresh random set, so yours will differ.

Easy

There are 7 erasers in the classroom. Some are taken out. Now there are 4 erasers. How many erasers were taken out?
Answer: 3
Freya has 5 erasers. Freya gets some more. Now Freya has 6 erasers. How many erasers did Freya get?
Answer: 1

Standard

A classroom had some notebooks. Later, 8 notebooks were added. Now there are 17 notebooks. How many notebooks were there at first?
Answer: 9
A book cart had 13 picture books. Some picture books were given away. Now there are 9 picture books. How many picture books were given away?
Answer: 4

Challenge

Liam had 18 buttons. Liam gave some away. Now Liam has 11 buttons. How many buttons did Liam give away?
Answer: 7
A toy chest had some balloons. Then 8 balloons were taken away. Now there are 7 balloons. How many balloons were there at first?
Answer: 15

Where this skill fits

Previous skill: Subtraction word problems (within 20)
All grades: Word Problems worksheets, Grades 1–5
Same skill in Grade 2: Grade 2 Word Problems: Missing-number word problems

Related Common Core standards

1.OA.A.1 — Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems (unknown in any position).

The task matches what these standards describe at this grade. Common Core–informed practice; not a claim of official alignment.