Resources/Word problems practice: multi-step reasoning
Grades 5-8•Printable worksheet + answer key•CC0 license

Word problems practice: multi-step reasoning

A printable lesson that helps students translate words into math.

Students practice identifying key information, choosing operations, and checking answers with units.

Print-ready worksheet with answer key and quick teaching tips.

Grades 5-80 problems10 minAnswer key included
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Ready-to-teach

Clear steps, examples, and practice in one printable page.

Misconception-proof

Highlights common mistakes and how to fix them quickly.

Open license

CC0: free to copy, adapt, and share without attribution.

Quick overview

This free word problems worksheet for grades 5-8 builds multi-step reasoning and equation setup skills.

Lesson plan snapshot

15-20 min
  • Warm-up (3 min): rewrite a short word problem in your own words.
  • Model (5 min): solve the worked example together.
  • Guided practice (5 min): complete problems 1-3 as a group.
  • Independent practice (7 min): finish the remaining problems.

Materials: highlighter, pencil

Learning targets

  • Identify the question and relevant information.
  • Translate words into equations or models.
  • Solve multi-step problems and check with units.

Step-by-step approach

  1. 1Read the problem twice and underline the question.
  2. 2List the important numbers and label the units.
  3. 3Write an equation or a quick diagram.
  4. 4Solve and check if the answer makes sense.

Common mistakes

Mistake

Using every number in the problem.

Try instead

Only use numbers that relate to the question.

Mistake

Mixing up units (hours vs minutes).

Try instead

Write units next to each number before calculating.

Mistake

Misreading “less than” or “difference.”

Try instead

Rewrite the sentence in your own words first.

Worked example

Guided
Liam read 12 pages on Monday and 18 pages on Tuesday. He wants to read 50 pages total. How many more pages does he need?
  1. Total read so far: 12 + 18 = 30 pages.
  2. Goal is 50 pages, so 50 - 30 = 20 pages remaining.
Answer: 20 pages

Related resources

Fractions

Add and compare fractions with unlike denominators.

View resource

Ratios

Unit rates and proportional reasoning practice.

View resource

Equations

Solve one- and two-step equations.

View resource

Practice problems

10 problems • 15 min

Printable worksheet
  1. 1
    Mia has 15 stickers. She gives away 4 and then buys 5 more. How many does she have now?
  2. 2
    A box has 9 markers. You buy 5 boxes. How many markers do you have in total?
  3. 3
    A box has 7 markers. You buy 5 boxes. How many markers do you have in total?
  4. 4
    Mia has 12 stickers. She gives away 7 and then buys 5 more. How many does she have now?
  5. 5
    Mia has 8 stickers. She gives away 7 and then buys 8 more. How many does she have now?
  6. 6
    A box has 7 markers. You buy 6 boxes. How many markers do you have in total?
  7. 7
    Mia has 10 stickers. She gives away 5 and then buys 5 more. How many does she have now?
  8. 8
    A box has 4 markers. You buy 5 boxes. How many markers do you have in total?
  9. 9
    Mia has 15 stickers. She gives away 6 and then buys 6 more. How many does she have now?
  10. 10
    Mia has 10 stickers. She gives away 4 and then buys 6 more. How many does she have now?

Answer key

10 answers
  1. 11) 16
  2. 22) 45
  3. 33) 35
  4. 44) 10
  5. 55) 9
  6. 66) 42
  7. 77) 10
  8. 88) 20
  9. 99) 15
  10. 1010) 12

Teacher tips

  • THave students explain the plan before calculating.
  • TEncourage unit labels after every step.
  • TUse bar models or tape diagrams for multi-step problems.

Parent tips

  • PAsk: “What is the question asking?” before solving.
  • PHave your child estimate to check the final answer.
  • PUse everyday examples like shopping or travel time.

Open license

You are free to copy, adapt, and share these materials. No attribution required. Released under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 (public domain).