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Volume Word Problems (Cylinders, Cones, and Spheres) - Printable Math Worksheets 8th Grade - Wayground

Volume Word Problems (Cylinders, Cones, and Spheres)

Latasha Little

Created by Latasha Little

15 questions

8th Grade

Math

Updated Jun 2026

Volume Word Problems (Cylinders, Cones, and Spheres) is a Grade 8 mathematics worksheet with 15 multiple-choice questions set in practical contexts such as cans, swimming pools, silos, sports equipment, and containers. Students calculate the volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres using given radii, diameters, heights, and lengths, including cases that require finding a radius from a diameter or identifying the correct equation before calculating. The worksheet also builds accuracy with estimation and measurement: students round answers as directed, select appropriate cubic units, apply a specified value of π, calculate the volume of multiple cylindrical objects, and determine the volume of half a cylinder. It is a free printable worksheet with a complete answer key, suitable for Grade 8 practice, independent work, review, or a quick check of students’ ability to apply solid-volume formulas to word problems.

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Volume Word Problems (Cylinders, Cones, and Spheres)

Total questions: 15

Name
Class
Date
1.
You have a globe that has a radius of 11 inches. Find the volume of your globe. 
a)
523 in3
b)
16,717 in3
c)
5,575 in3
d)
7,235 in3
2.

Mike created a cone that has a diameter of 8 feet and a height of 3 feet. Find the volume of this cone.

a)

50.27 ft3

b)

150.72 ft3

c)

not here

d)

192.65 ft3

3.
Michael has a very large soup pot shaped like a cylinder that has a height of 15 inches and a radius of 6 inches . How much…
Michael has a very large soup pot shaped like a cylinder that has a height of 15  inches and a radius of 6 inches. How much soup can Michael’s soup pot hold?
a)
4239 in3
b)
423.9 in3
c)
1695.6 in3
d)
 1695.6 in2
4.
Soda is sold in aluminum cans that measure 6 inches in height and 2 inches in diameter.  How many cubic inches of soda are contained in a full can?
a)
12.0
b)
24.0
c)
75.4
d)
18.8
5.
Choir is selling Pringle Chips to raise money for a field trip. The container has a diameter of 9 inches and a height of 32 inches. 

Which equation can be used to find the volume of the container?
a)
V = π(9)
b)
V = π(4.5)2(32)
c)
V = π(9)2(32)
d)
V = π(4.5)(32)
6.
A table tennis ball has a diameter of 40 mm. What is the approximate volume of the table tennis ball in cubic millimeters?
a)
1,676 mm3
b)
18,850 mm3
c)
33,510.3 mm3
d)
268,083 mm3
7.
Mike has a large plastic cup that he is going to fill to the top with water. The plastic cup is in the shape of a cone as…

Mike has a large plastic cup that he is going to fill to the top with water. The plastic cup is in the shape of a cone as shown. Which is closest to the volume of Mike’s cup?

a)
21 cubic inches
b)
63 cubic inches
c)
66 cubic inches
d)
198 cubic inches
8.
Russell is filling a cylinder-shaped swimming pool that has a diameter of 20 feet. He fills it with water to a depth of 3 feet. What is the volume of the water in the pool, to the nearest cubic foot?
a)
377 cubic feet
b)
942 cubic feet
c)
2,958 cubic feet
d)
3,768  cubic feet
9.
A rancher wants to cut a metal cylinder in half to use as a watering trough as shown. If the cylinder has a diameter of 5…
A rancher wants to cut a metal cylinder in half to use as a watering trough as shown.
If the cylinder has a diameter of 5 feet and a length of 9 feet, which value is closest to the volume of the trough in cubic feet? Use π = 3.14.
a)
176.6 ft3
b)
141.3 ft3
c)
88.3 ft3
d)
70.7 ft3
10.
Jack is making 4 cylindrical wax candles. If he plans to make candles with a diameter of 7 cm and a height of 12 cm, approximately how many cubic centimeters of wax will Jack need to make the candles?
a)
7,389 cm3
b)
6,333 cm3
c)
3,167 cm3
d)
1,847 cm3
11.
A large sphere at an amusement park is 165 feet in diameter. Which of the following is closest to the volume, in cubic feet, of the sphere? Use π=3.14.
a)
261,000
b)
2,351,000
c)
18,810,000
d)
41,210,000
12.

A cylindrical silo that stores grain has a diameter of 16 feet and is 40 feet tall. How many cubic feet of grain will fit inside the silo? Round to the nearest tenth. Use 3.14 for π.

a)
1004.8 ft3
b)
2009.6 ft3
c)
8038 ft3
d)
8038.4 ft3
13.
Calculate the amount of ice cream this cone can hold (just to the top of the cone) . Round to the nearest hundredth .

Calculate the amount of ice cream this cone can hold (just to the top of the cone) . Round to the nearest hundredth.

a)

58.29 cm2

b)

58.29 cm3

c)

233.15 cm2

d)

233.15 cm³

14.
A golf ball has a diameter of 1.7 inches. The company is looking to fill the inside of it with material. How many cubic…

A golf ball has a diameter of 1.7 inches.  The company is looking to fill the inside of it with material. How many cubic inches of the material will they need to fill the golf ball?

a)
2.57 cubic inches
b)
5.67 cubic inches
c)
7.71 cubic inches
d)
4.56 cubic inches
15.
A deflated basketball needs to be filled for air. Calculate how much air must be pumped into a basketball with a diameter of…
A deflated basketball needs to be filled for air. Calculate how much air must be pumped into a basketball with a diameter of 9.5 inches.
a)
1,346.1 cubic inches
b)
667.8 cubic inches
c)
897.3 cubic inches
d)
448.7 cubic inches
WaygroundAnswer Key

Volume Word Problems (Cylinders, Cones, and Spheres)

Total questions: 15

1.
c) 5,575 in3
2.
a)

50.27 ft3

3.
c) 1695.6 in3
4.
d) 18.8
5.
b) V = π(4.5)2(32)
6.
c) 33,510.3 mm3
7.
c) 66 cubic inches
8.
b) 942 cubic feet
9.
c) 88.3 ft3
10.
d) 1,847 cm3
11.
b) 2,351,000
12.
d) 8038.4 ft3
13.
b)

58.29 cm3

14.
a) 2.57 cubic inches
15.
d) 448.7 cubic inches

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FAQs

What does this worksheet cover?

This Grade 8 worksheet covers finding the volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres in 15 multiple-choice word problems. Students interpret radii, diameters, heights, lengths, and depths, choose or apply the appropriate volume equation, handle cases such as a half-cylinder trough and four cylinders, and report answers in cubic units with the requested rounding.

How can I use this worksheet to teach volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres?

Use the worksheet after modeling how to convert a diameter to a radius and select the correct formula for each solid. Have students annotate each word problem with the shape, known measurements, formula, and unit before choosing an answer. Discuss why the cone questions use one-third of the corresponding cylinder volume and ask students to explain the equation selected for the cylindrical chip container.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete these volume word problems?

Watch for students using the diameter as the radius, especially in the can, pool, silo, golf-ball, and basketball problems. Students may also omit the one-third factor for cones, use a sphere’s diameter where its radius is required, or forget to halve the cylinder’s volume for the trough. Check that they distinguish cubic units from square units and follow directions to round to the nearest cubic foot, tenth, or hundredth.

How do I assign and grade this worksheet?

This worksheet is available as a printable PDF and as a digital quiz on Wayground, and it includes a complete answer key for all 15 multiple-choice questions. For printable submissions, teachers can scan student work with the Wayground for Teachers app to help grade responses. The printable format also supports schools that want to reduce screen time.

How can I differentiate this volume worksheet for my students?

In the worksheet’s Advanced Settings, adjust font spacing or increase the font size to make the multi-step cylinder, cone, and sphere word problems easier to read. You can also select a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language while keeping the multiple-choice format and measurement information accessible.

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 mastery of essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

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