By Elizabeth Rojas
10 questions
3rd - 3rd Grade
Science
26 plays
Updated Sep 2026
Three States of Matter Vocabulary is a Grade 3 science worksheet that helps students distinguish solids, liquids, and gases by their observable properties. Across 10 questions—8 multiple-choice and 2 multiple-select—students identify whether matter has a definite shape or volume, recognize how liquids flow and gases spread, and connect each state to familiar examples such as ice, oil, coffee grounds, air, and helium. The worksheet also asks students to apply vocabulary in short descriptions and mystery-substance scenarios. They use clues such as visibility, flow, shape, level surfaces, and how a substance behaves in a container to identify water or classify a state of matter. This free printable worksheet includes a complete answer key and is designed for Grade 3 science practice, review, or a quick check of students’ understanding of the three states of matter.
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WorksheetsAnswer Keydefinite volume and keeps their shape
do not have a definite shape, flow to the bottom of the container they are put into
do not have a definite shape, spread to fill the container they are put into
Oil
, c)Strawberry Milk
Liquid
water
sand
Coffee grounds
, c)Ice
This Grade 3 science worksheet uses 8 multiple-choice and 2 multiple-select questions to build students’ ability to identify solids, liquids, and gases by their shape, volume, flow, and behavior in containers. Students apply those properties to examples such as ice, oil, coffee grounds, air, helium, and water, as well as short mystery-substance descriptions.
Introduce the three states by modeling whether familiar materials keep their shape, flow to the bottom of a container, or spread to fill the container. Then have students complete the definition and example questions before discussing the mystery-substance scenarios, asking them to cite clues such as visibility, flow, and whether a substance forms a level surface.
Students may confuse a liquid’s ability to flow with a gas’s ability to spread throughout a container, or assume that any material that moves is a liquid. Watch the multiple-select items closely as well: students must select every correct example, including oil and strawberry milk as liquids and coffee grounds and ice as solids. The mystery questions also require students to use several properties together rather than rely on one clue.
You can assign this worksheet as a printable PDF or use it as a digital quiz on Wayground. It includes a complete answer key, and printable student work can be graded by scanning it with the Wayground for Teachers app. The printable format can also support schools that are reducing screen time while students practice classifying matter.
Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing or choose a larger font size so the matter definitions, examples, and scenario clues are easier to read. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language, helping students access the multiple-choice and multiple-select questions without changing the target skill.
Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to help students master essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.
