🎓 Grade 2📄 Free PDF✅ Answer Keys🎯 4 Classroom Sets

Two-Step Word Problems · Free Worksheets (Grade 2)

Practice two-step word problems (Grade 2) with free printable PDF worksheets. 4 pre-packaged classroom sets with 100% verified step-by-step answer keys, plus an unlimited live customizer for teachers and homeschoolers.

📐Aligned to Common Core (CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.OA.A.1)·5-10 min per sheet

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PanMaths.comTwo-Step Word Problems (Addition & Subtraction within 100) Worksheets • Set A (Standard)

Name: __________________________

Date: _____________ Period: ____

Score: _____ / 10

1.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Add]

An art teacher had 34 red crayons and 28 blue crayons. She bought 16 green crayons. How many crayons does the teacher have in total?

Step 1 (Red and blue crayons):

___ + ___ = [___]

Step 2 (Total crayons now):

___ + ___ = [___]

Answer:

_____ crayons

2.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Subtract]

A toy store had 45 teddy bears and 27 toy robots on the shelf. Customers purchased 38 toys during the holiday sale. How many toys remain on the shelf?

Step 1 (Total toys on shelf):

___ + ___ = [___]

Step 2 (Toys remaining on shelf):

___ - ___ = [___]

Answer:

_____ toys

3.[Step 1: Subtract] ➔ [Step 2: Add]

Ethan had 65 pennies in his piggy bank. He spent 25 pennies on candy. Later, his grandmother gave him 30 pennies. How many pennies does Ethan have now?

Step 1 (Pennies left after candy):

___ - ___ = [___]

Step 2 (Total pennies now):

___ + ___ = [___]

Answer:

_____ pennies

4.[Step 1: Subtract] ➔ [Step 2: Subtract]

A movie theater had 75 seats. At the start of the film, 32 people were seated. During previews, 24 more people took seats. How many seats are still empty?

Step 1 (Seats empty after group 1):

___ - ___ = [___]

Step 2 (Seats empty after group 2):

___ - ___ = [___]

Answer:

_____ empty seats

5.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Add]

Sophia picked 25 yellow daisies, 27 pink tulips, and 18 red roses from the garden. How many flowers did Sophia pick altogether?

Step 1 (Daisies and tulips):

___ + ___ = [___]

Step 2 (Total flowers altogether):

___ + ___ = [___]

Answer:

_____ flowers

6.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Subtract]

A cafeteria prepared 38 cheese sandwiches and 36 turkey sandwiches. Students ate 54 sandwiches during lunch period. How many sandwiches are left?

Step 1 (Total sandwiches prepared):

___ + ___ = [___]

Step 2 (Sandwiches remaining):

___ - ___ = [___]

Answer:

_____ sandwiches

7.[Step 1: Subtract] ➔ [Step 2: Subtract]

A bird feeder had 55 seeds. Morning birds ate 28 seeds. In the afternoon, a squirrel knocked 15 more seeds onto the ground. How many seeds are still on the feeder?

Step 1 (Seeds after morning birds):

___ - ___ = [___]

Step 2 (Seeds remaining on feeder):

___ - ___ = [___]

Answer:

_____ seeds

8.[Step 1: Subtract] ➔ [Step 2: Add]

A train started with 70 passengers. At station A, 35 passengers got off. Then 26 new passengers boarded. How many passengers are on the train now?

Step 1 (Passengers after Station A):

___ - ___ = [___]

Step 2 (Total passengers on train now):

___ + ___ = [___]

Answer:

_____ passengers

9.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Add]

Chloe read 26 pages of her book on Friday and 28 pages on Saturday. On Sunday, she read 24 pages. How many total pages did Chloe read this weekend?

Step 1 (Pages on Fri + Sat):

___ + ___ = [___]

Step 2 (Total pages all 3 days):

___ + ___ = [___]

Answer:

_____ pages

10.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Subtract]

A fruit stand had 48 green apples and 32 red apples. By afternoon, 55 apples had been sold. How many apples remain at the stand?

Step 1 (Total apples at stand):

___ + ___ = [___]

Step 2 (Apples remaining):

___ - ___ = [___]

Answer:

_____ apples

PanMaths.com • Free Printable Math WorksheetsPage 1 of 2

PanMaths.comAnswer Key & Worked Solutions • Set A (Standard)

Answer Key

Total Problems: 10

1.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Add]

An art teacher had 34 red crayons and 28 blue crayons. She bought 16 green crayons. How many crayons does the teacher have in total?

Step 1 (Red and blue crayons):

34 + 28 = 62

Step 2 (Total crayons now):

62 + 16 = 78

Answer:

78 crayons

Step 1: 34 + 28 = 62. | Step 2: 62 + 16 = 78 crayons. Final Answer: 78 crayons ✅

2.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Subtract]

A toy store had 45 teddy bears and 27 toy robots on the shelf. Customers purchased 38 toys during the holiday sale. How many toys remain on the shelf?

Step 1 (Total toys on shelf):

45 + 27 = 72

Step 2 (Toys remaining on shelf):

72 - 38 = 34

Answer:

34 toys

Step 1: 45 + 27 = 72. | Step 2: 72 - 38 = 34 toys. Final Answer: 34 toys ✅

3.[Step 1: Subtract] ➔ [Step 2: Add]

Ethan had 65 pennies in his piggy bank. He spent 25 pennies on candy. Later, his grandmother gave him 30 pennies. How many pennies does Ethan have now?

Step 1 (Pennies left after candy):

65 - 25 = 40

Step 2 (Total pennies now):

40 + 30 = 70

Answer:

70 pennies

Step 1: 65 - 25 = 40. | Step 2: 40 + 30 = 70 pennies. Final Answer: 70 pennies ✅

4.[Step 1: Subtract] ➔ [Step 2: Subtract]

A movie theater had 75 seats. At the start of the film, 32 people were seated. During previews, 24 more people took seats. How many seats are still empty?

Step 1 (Seats empty after group 1):

75 - 32 = 43

Step 2 (Seats empty after group 2):

43 - 24 = 19

Answer:

19 empty seats

Step 1: 75 - 32 = 43. | Step 2: 43 - 24 = 19 empty seats. Final Answer: 19 empty seats ✅

5.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Add]

Sophia picked 25 yellow daisies, 27 pink tulips, and 18 red roses from the garden. How many flowers did Sophia pick altogether?

Step 1 (Daisies and tulips):

25 + 27 = 52

Step 2 (Total flowers altogether):

52 + 18 = 70

Answer:

70 flowers

Step 1: 25 + 27 = 52. | Step 2: 52 + 18 = 70 flowers. Final Answer: 70 flowers ✅

6.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Subtract]

A cafeteria prepared 38 cheese sandwiches and 36 turkey sandwiches. Students ate 54 sandwiches during lunch period. How many sandwiches are left?

Step 1 (Total sandwiches prepared):

38 + 36 = 74

Step 2 (Sandwiches remaining):

74 - 54 = 20

Answer:

20 sandwiches

Step 1: 38 + 36 = 74. | Step 2: 74 - 54 = 20 sandwiches. Final Answer: 20 sandwiches ✅

7.[Step 1: Subtract] ➔ [Step 2: Subtract]

A bird feeder had 55 seeds. Morning birds ate 28 seeds. In the afternoon, a squirrel knocked 15 more seeds onto the ground. How many seeds are still on the feeder?

Step 1 (Seeds after morning birds):

55 - 28 = 27

Step 2 (Seeds remaining on feeder):

27 - 15 = 12

Answer:

12 seeds

Step 1: 55 - 28 = 27. | Step 2: 27 - 15 = 12 seeds. Final Answer: 12 seeds ✅

8.[Step 1: Subtract] ➔ [Step 2: Add]

A train started with 70 passengers. At station A, 35 passengers got off. Then 26 new passengers boarded. How many passengers are on the train now?

Step 1 (Passengers after Station A):

70 - 35 = 35

Step 2 (Total passengers on train now):

35 + 26 = 61

Answer:

61 passengers

Step 1: 70 - 35 = 35. | Step 2: 35 + 26 = 61 passengers. Final Answer: 61 passengers ✅

9.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Add]

Chloe read 26 pages of her book on Friday and 28 pages on Saturday. On Sunday, she read 24 pages. How many total pages did Chloe read this weekend?

Step 1 (Pages on Fri + Sat):

26 + 28 = 54

Step 2 (Total pages all 3 days):

54 + 24 = 78

Answer:

78 pages

Step 1: 26 + 28 = 54. | Step 2: 54 + 24 = 78 pages. Final Answer: 78 pages ✅

10.[Step 1: Add] ➔ [Step 2: Subtract]

A fruit stand had 48 green apples and 32 red apples. By afternoon, 55 apples had been sold. How many apples remain at the stand?

Step 1 (Total apples at stand):

48 + 32 = 80

Step 2 (Apples remaining):

80 - 55 = 25

Answer:

25 apples

Step 1: 48 + 32 = 80. | Step 2: 80 - 55 = 25 apples. Final Answer: 25 apples ✅

PanMaths.com • Answer Key & SolutionsPage 2 of 2

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Worksheet Info

Categorygrade-2

Grade LevelGrade 2

DifficultyEasy, Medium, Hard, Sprint

Time5-10 min

CCSS CodeCCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.OA.A.1

Skills Practiced

✓ Two-Step Word Problems (Addition & Subtraction within 100)

Key Strategies

🔍 Find the 'Hidden Question' (Step 1): Before answering what the problem ultimately asks, identify what intermediate number must be found first (e.g., 'How many muffins were baked altogether before any were sold?').
✍️ Write and Solve Step 1 Explicitly: Set up the first equation clearly and circle the intermediate result so it is ready for the second step.
🎯 Connect Step 1 Result into Step 2: Carry the intermediate answer into the second equation and complete the final addition or subtraction with proper labels.
💡 Check for Reasonableness: Reread the story: if items were given away or eaten, is the final number smaller? If items were gathered or received, does the quantity make sense?

Related Worksheets

📄 Base-10 Blocks to 1,000View →📄 Expanded Form 3-Digit NumbersView →📄 Comparing 3-Digit NumbersView →📄 Skip Counting by 3s and 4sView →

📜 Standard: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.OA.A.1🔗 CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.NBT.B.5🔗 CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.OA.B.2

Mastering Two-Step Word Problems: Core Concepts & Mental Models

Two-step word problems require students to break complex real-world scenarios into two distinct, sequential mathematical operations. Students must first answer an unstated hidden question (Step 1) before using that intermediate total to calculate the final answer (Step 2). In Grade 2, students master the four foundational two-step structures: Add-then-Add, Add-then-Subtract, Subtract-then-Add, and Subtract-then-Subtract.

Worked Example & SolutionTeacher Step-by-Step Method

📝 Problem: A bakery baked 35 blueberry muffins and 28 chocolate muffins. During lunch, they sold 42 muffins. How many muffins are left?

Worked Solution: Step 1 (Find total baked): 35 + 28 = 63 muffins. Step 2 (Subtract muffins sold): 63 - 42 = 21 muffins left. Final Answer: 21 muffins. ✅

💡 Essential Strategies for Two-Step Word Problems

🔍 Find the 'Hidden Question' (Step 1)

Before answering what the problem ultimately asks, identify what intermediate number must be found first (e.g., 'How many muffins were baked altogether before any were sold?').

✍️ Write and Solve Step 1 Explicitly

Set up the first equation clearly and circle the intermediate result so it is ready for the second step.

🎯 Connect Step 1 Result into Step 2

Carry the intermediate answer into the second equation and complete the final addition or subtraction with proper labels.

💡 Check for Reasonableness

Reread the story: if items were given away or eaten, is the final number smaller? If items were gathered or received, does the quantity make sense?

📖 Key Mathematical Vocabulary

Two-Step Word Problem

A math story problem that requires solving two separate equations in sequence to find the final answer.

Hidden Question (Intermediate Step)

The first question that must be answered before the final question can be solved.

Add to / Put Together

An operation joining two or more quantities to find an increased total sum.

Take From / Left Over

An operation removing a quantity from a starting amount to find the remaining difference.

🎯 4 Differentiated Classroom Sets Included

Standard 10Version A

Set A: Core Two-Step Stories (Within 60) (10 Problems)

Balanced mix of all 4 archetypes (Add/Add, Add/Sub, Sub/Add, Sub/Sub) within 60; dual-step workspace boxes with labeled units.

Anti-CheatVersion B

Set B: Expanded Scenarios (Within 80) (10 Problems)

Parallel real-world school, sports, and store stories with numbers up to 80; prevents copying and tests independent problem decomposition.

ChallengingVersion C

Set C: Advanced Real-World Stories (Within 100) (8 Problems)

Multi-digit scenarios up to 100 with comparison language ('how many more needed', 'total remaining') requiring rigorous 2-step modeling.

Speed SprintVersion D

Set D: Rapid 2-Step Arithmetic Sprint (12 Problems)

Rapid mental arithmetic chains (e.g., 25 + 15 - 12 = [__]) to build operational fluency between sequential addition and subtraction.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do you solve a two-step word problems problem step by step?

Here is a worked example: "A bakery baked 35 blueberry muffins and 28 chocolate muffins. During lunch, they sold 42 muffins. How many muffins are left?". Solution: Step 1 (Find total baked): 35 + 28 = 63 muffins. Step 2 (Subtract muffins sold): 63 - 42 = 21 muffins left. Final Answer: 21 muffins. ✅

What is the core learning objective for two-step word problems?

Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve two-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with explicit step-by-step intermediate calculations. This directly aligns with Common Core Standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.OA.A.1.

What is included in the 4 differentiated worksheet sets?

Set A covers standard core practice (Balanced mix of all 4 archetypes (Add/Add, Add/Sub, Sub/Add, Sub/Sub) within 60; dual-step workspace boxes with labeled units.). Set B is an Anti-Cheat version with alternate numbers to prevent copying. Set C features challenging problems, and Set D is a timed sprint.

Are these two-step word problems worksheets free to print with answer keys?

Yes! Every single worksheet on PanMaths is 100% free with no sign-up needed. Each sheet includes a dedicated Answer Key on Page 2 with step-by-step intermediate evaluation lines for 1-minute grading.