This multiplication meaning worksheet for 3rd Grade covers understanding multiplication (Common Core 3.OA.A.1, 3.OA.A.3), with a free PDF to print.
These 20 problems practice the meaning of multiplication (Common Core 3.OA.A.1 and 3.OA.A.3). Students read equal groups, arrays, number lines, and tape diagrams, and write equations for them. The last six problems are word problems with more than one step, using money, measurements, and everyday situations.
Grade 3 · Common Core State Standards: 3.OA.A.1, 3.OA.A.3
Multiplication meaning worksheet: exercises 1 to 10
Exercise 1 – Groups in a product
Write \(8 \times 3\) as a number of groups and a size for each group.
Exercise 2 – Count the groups
Write a multiplication equation for the picture, then find the product.
Equal groups of dots.
Exercise 3 – Repeated addition
Write \(7 \times 3\) as repeated addition. Then find the total.
Exercise 4 – Read the array
Write a multiplication equation for the array.
An array of dots.
Exercise 5 – Meaning of each factor
In \(9 \times 4 = 36\), tell what the 9 means, what the 4 means, and what the 36 means.
Exercise 6 – Jumps on a number line
A rabbit hops 4 times. Each hop is 5 feet. Write an equation for the jumps shown and find where the rabbit lands.
4 hops of 5 feet.
Exercise 7 – Shelves of books
Write an equation for this story and solve it. A library has 6 shelves, and each shelf holds 5 books.
Exercise 8 – Jugs of water
Find the total amount of water. Each jug holds 3 gallons.
4 jugs, 3 gallons each.
Exercise 9 – Rows of seats
Find the number of seats. A bus has 3 rows with 8 seats in each row.
Exercise 10 – Tickets
Find the total cost. Jamal buys 7 tickets for the school play. Each ticket costs $3.
Exercises 11 and up
Exercise 11 – Unknown product
Find the value of \(n\): \(n = 9 \times 3\).
Exercise 12 – Repeated addition check
Mei says \(5 \times 4 = 4 + 4 + 4 + 4\). Tell whether she is correct, and explain.
Exercise 13 – Tape diagram of sticker books
Find the total. Each part of the tape diagram is 7.
6 equal parts of 7.
Exercise 14 – Fix the equation
Ethan wrote \(3 \times 6 = 6 + 6\). Fix the sum so it matches, then find the product.
Exercise 15 – Sticker packs
Solve. Priya buys 8 packs of stickers. Each pack has 4 stickers. She gives 5 stickers to her cousin. How many stickers does Priya have left?
Exercise 16 – Pencil boxes
Solve. Mei has 3 boxes with 9 pencils in each box and 2 boxes with 6 pencils in each box. How many pencils does she have in all?
Exercise 17 – Bake sale trays
Solve. A bake sale has 5 trays with 8 muffins on each tray. By noon, 25 muffins are sold. How many muffins are left?
Exercise 18 – Who hiked farther?
Solve. Sofia hikes 3 miles each day for 7 days. Diego hikes 4 miles each day for 5 days. Who hikes farther, and by how many miles?
Exercise 19 – Peach crates
Solve. At a farmers market, one stand has 6 crates with 8 peaches in each crate. A second stand has 9 crates with 5 peaches in each crate. How many peaches do the two stands have together?
Exercise 20 – Tables and chairs
Solve. A classroom has 4 tables with 6 students at each table and 3 tables with 8 students at each table. The room has 50 chairs. How many chairs are empty if every student sits?
A letter or symbol can stand for the unknown product, as in 5 × 8 = n.
How to use this multiplication meaning worksheet
Work through the exercises in order: they go from simple to challenging. Write every step on paper, then compare with the solutions page and redo any exercise you missed the next day.
Download the multiplication meaning worksheet as a PDF with the button below and keep it with your notes.
