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Word Problems Key Words - Printable Math Worksheets grade 2 - Wayground

Word Problems Key Words

Claudia DelPino

Created by Claudia DelPino

12 questions

2nd Grade

Math

Updated Sep 2026

Word Problems Key Words is a Grade 2 mathematics worksheet that teaches students to identify key words and phrases in addition and subtraction word problems, then connect those clues to the operation they should use. Across 12 questions—10 multiple-select and 2 multiple-choice—students examine situations involving adding quantities, taking away, comparing “how many more,” handling more than one change, and identifying an unknown starting amount. The worksheet helps students distinguish operation cues such as “in all,” “more,” “and,” “hop away,” “gave,” “remain,” and “how many more.” It also asks students to recognize when a problem requires both addition and subtraction or more than one key word. This free printable worksheet includes a complete answer key for efficient checking and is suitable for Grade 2 math practice, guided instruction, or independent review.

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Word Problems Key Words

Total questions: 12

Name
Class
Date
1.

Raj finds 37 acorns in his front yard. He finds 29 acorns in his backyard. How many acorns does Raj find in all? What is the key word? What operation does it help me solve?

a)

how many

b)

finds

c)

in all

d)

addition

e)

subtraction

2.

There are 33 papers on a table. Ms. Smith puts 25 more papers on the table. How many papers are on the table now? What is the key word? What operation does it help me solve?

a)

table

b)

more

c)

how many

d)

subtraction

e)

addition

3.

Colin has 54 pennies and 28 nickels. How many coins does Colin have? What is the key word? What operation does it help you solve?

a)

how many

b)

and

c)

coins

d)

addition

e)

subtraction

4.

Nita has 14 grapes. She eats 6 grapes. How many grapes are left? What is the key word? What operation it will help you solve?

a)

how many

b)

eats

c)

grapes

d)

addition

e)

subtraction

5.

21 frogs are in the pond. 2 frogs hop away. Then 15 more frogs hop away. How many frogs are left in the pond? What are the key words? Choose more than one. What operation does it help you solve?

a)

hop away

b)

how many

c)

left

d)

addition

e)

subtraction

6.

Sally has 35 pennies. Frazer has 15 pennies. How many more pennies does Sally have? What is the key word? What operation does it help you solve?

a)

How many

b)

more

c)

How many more

d)

addition

e)

subtraction

7.

A shop has 32 bicycles. 23 bicycles are sold. What is 32 minus 23? What are the key words? Choose more than one. What operation does it help you solve?

a)

sold

b)

minus

c)

bicycles

d)

addition

e)

subtraction

8.

Shelby had 32 rocks. She finds 33 more rocks at the park and gives 28 rocks to George. How many rocks does she have now? What are the key words? Choose more than one. What are the operations it help you solve?

a)

finds more

b)

how many

c)

gives to

d)

Addition only

e)

Addition and subtraction

9.

Some key chains are in a bag. Aki takes out 17 key chains. 14 key chains are left in the bag. How many key chains were in the bag to start? What are the key words? Chose more than one. What operation does it help you solve?

a)

some

b)

how many

c)

start

d)

addition

e)

subtraction

10.
What operation do these words help you solve?

What operation do these words help you solve?

a)

addition

b)

subtraction

11.
What math operation do these words help you solve?

What math operation do these words help you solve?

a)

addition

b)

subtraction

12.

Jacob had a jar with 235 marbles. He gave 110 to his friend Danielle. How many marbles remain? What are the key words? Pick more than one. What operation does it help you solve?

a)

How many

b)

gave

c)

remain

d)

addition

e)

subtraction

WaygroundAnswer Key

Word Problems Key Words

Total questions: 12

1.
c)

in all

, d)

addition

2.
b)

more

, e)

addition

3.
b)

and

, d)

addition

4.
e)

subtraction

, b)

eats

5.
a)

hop away

, c)

left

, e)

subtraction

6.
c)

How many more

, e)

subtraction

7.
a)

sold

, b)

minus

, e)

subtraction

8.
a)

finds more

, c)

gives to

, e)

Addition and subtraction

9.
a)

some

, c)

start

, e)

subtraction

10.
a)

addition

11.
b)

subtraction

12.
b)

gave

, c)

remain

, e)

subtraction

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FAQs

What does the Word Problems Key Words worksheet cover?

This Grade 2 worksheet asks students to read addition and subtraction word problems, select the key word or words, and identify the operation those words signal. Its 12 items include multiple-select questions for phrases such as “in all,” “more,” “how many more,” “gave,” and “remain,” plus two multiple-choice operation-identification questions.

How can I use this worksheet to teach students to identify operations from word problems?

Model one item by underlining the key phrase, explaining what change it describes, and selecting addition or subtraction before discussing the answer. Then have students compare cases such as “in all” and “more” with “hop away,” “gave,” or “remain,” and finish with the questions involving both “finds more” and “gives to” so they see that one problem can require addition and subtraction.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this worksheet?

Students may select a broad phrase such as “how many” instead of the more informative cue, such as “how many more,” “in all,” or “remain.” They may also choose only one key word when the item asks for more than one, miss that the rocks problem uses both addition and subtraction, or overlook “start” in the key-chain problem.

How do I assign and grade this worksheet?

Wayground provides Word Problems Key Words as a printable PDF and as a digital quiz, and the worksheet includes a complete answer key for all 12 key-word and operation items. Printable submissions can be graded by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app.

How can I differentiate the key-word practice on this worksheet?

Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing or choose a larger font so the word-problem text and multiple-select options are easier to scan. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language when that supports students’ access to the key phrases and operation choices.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to support essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

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