Grade 1 Word Problems: Subtraction word problems (within 20)

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 · Subtraction word problems (within 20) · Standard

Grade 1 · Word Problems

Subtraction Word Problems (within 20)

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 14 erasers. Of these, 9 are red. The rest are blue. How many erasers are blue?
Answer: 5
There are 13 erasers. Of these, 4 have been counted. How many erasers are left to count?
Answer: 9

Standard

Rosa has 10 picture books. Later, Rosa loses 2. How many picture books does Rosa have now?
Answer: 8
There are 11 balloons in the box. Later, 5 were taken away. How many balloons are left?
Answer: 6

Challenge

Tobias has 18 apples. Tobias gives away 17. How many apples does Tobias have left?
Answer: 1
Willow has 19 toy cars. Willow gives 13 to a friend. How many toy cars does Willow have left?
Answer: 6

Where this skill fits

Previous skill: Subtraction word problems (within 10)
Next skill: Missing-number word problems
All grades: Word Problems worksheets, Grades 1–5

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.