Multiplication Word Problems For Kids

Let’s go through a few examples of multiplication word problems with detailed solutions and diagrams to help kids understand the concept.

Example 1: Apples in Boxes

Word Problem: Emily has 3 boxes. Each box contains 4 apples. How many apples does she have in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 3 boxes and each box has 4 apples.
2. Set up the multiplication: 3 (boxes) × 4 (apples per box).

Diagram:

Box 1: 🍎🍎🍎🍎
Box 2: 🍎🍎🍎🍎
Box 3: 🍎🍎🍎🍎

Calculation: 3 × 4 = 12

Emily has 12 apples in total.

Example 2: Pencils in Packs

Word Problem: Sam bought 5 packs of pencils. Each pack has 6 pencils. How many pencils did Sam buy?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 5 packs and each pack has 6 pencils.
2. Set up the multiplication: 5 (packs) × 6 (pencils per pack).

Diagram:

Pack 1: ✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️
Pack 2: ✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️
Pack 3: ✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️
Pack 4: ✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️
Pack 5: ✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️

Calculation: 5 × 6 = 30

Sam bought 30 pencils in total.

Example 3: Chairs in Rows

Word Problem: There are 4 rows of chairs in a classroom. Each row has 8 chairs. How many chairs are there in the classroom?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 4 rows and each row has 8 chairs.
2. Set up the multiplication: 4 (rows) × 8 (chairs per row).

Diagram:

Row 1: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑
Row 2: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑
Row 3: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑
Row 4: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑

Calculation: 4 × 8 = 32

There are 32 chairs in the classroom.

Example 4: Cookies on Plates

Word Problem: Lily baked 7 plates of cookies. Each plate has 5 cookies. How many cookies did Lily bake?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 7 plates and each plate has 5 cookies.
2. Set up the multiplication: 7 (plates) × 5 (cookies per plate).

Diagram:

Plate 1: 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 2: 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 3: 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 4: 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 5: 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 6: 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 7: 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

Calculation: 7 × 5 = 35

Lily baked 35 cookies in total.

Example 5: Books on Shelves

Word Problem: There are 9 shelves in a library. Each shelf has 7 books. How many books are there in the library?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 9 shelves and each shelf has 7 books.
2. Set up the multiplication: 9 (shelves) × 7 (books per shelf).

Diagram:

Shelf 1: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Shelf 2: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Shelf 3: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Shelf 4: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Shelf 5: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Shelf 6: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Shelf 7: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Shelf 8: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Shelf 9: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

Calculation: 9 × 7 = 63

There are 63 books in the library.

Example 6: Flowers in Vases

Word Problem: Anna has 6 vases. Each vase contains 3 flowers. How many flowers does she have in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 6 vases and each vase has 3 flowers.
2. Set up the multiplication: 6 (vases) × 3 (flowers per vase).

Diagram:

Vase 1: 🌸🌸🌸
Vase 2: 🌸🌸🌸
Vase 3: 🌸🌸🌸
Vase 4: 🌸🌸🌸
Vase 5: 🌸🌸🌸
Vase 6: 🌸🌸🌸

Calculation: 6 × 3 = 18

Anna has 18 flowers in total.

Example 7: Cups on Tables

Word Problem: There are 4 tables at a party. Each table has 9 cups. How many cups are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 4 tables and each table has 9 cups.
2. Set up the multiplication: 4 (tables) × 9 (cups per table).

Diagram:

Table 1: 🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤
Table 2: 🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤
Table 3: 🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤
Table 4: 🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤

Calculation: 4 × 9 = 36

There are 36 cups in total.

Example 8: Toy Cars on Shelves

Word Problem: Tom has 5 shelves. Each shelf has 8 toy cars. How many toy cars does Tom have?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 5 shelves and each shelf has 8 toy cars.
2. Set up the multiplication: 5 (shelves) × 8 (toy cars per shelf).

Diagram:

Shelf 1: 🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗
Shelf 2: 🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗
Shelf 3: 🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗
Shelf 4: 🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗
Shelf 5: 🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗

Calculation: 5 × 8 = 40

Tom has 40 toy cars in total.

Example 9: Candy in Bags

Word Problem: Mary has 7 bags of candy. Each bag contains 4 pieces of candy. How many pieces of candy does Mary have in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 7 bags and each bag has 4 pieces of candy.
2. Set up the multiplication: 7 (bags) × 4 (pieces of candy per bag).

Diagram:

Bag 1: 🍬🍬🍬🍬
Bag 2: 🍬🍬🍬🍬
Bag 3: 🍬🍬🍬🍬
Bag 4: 🍬🍬🍬🍬
Bag 5: 🍬🍬🍬🍬
Bag 6: 🍬🍬🍬🍬
Bag 7: 🍬🍬🍬🍬

Calculation: 7 × 4 = 28

Mary has 28 pieces of candy in total.

Example 10: Balloons for a Party

Word Problem: There are 6 packs of balloons. Each pack has 10 balloons. How many balloons are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 6 packs and each pack has 10 balloons.
2. Set up the multiplication: 6 (packs) × 10 (balloons per pack).

Diagram:

Pack 1: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 2: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 3: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 4: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 5: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 6: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

Calculation: 6 × 10 = 60

There are 60 balloons in total.

Example 11: Slices of Pizza

Word Problem: There are 5 pizzas. Each pizza is cut into 8 slices. How many slices are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 5 pizzas and each pizza has 8 slices.
2. Set up the multiplication: 5 (pizzas) × 8 (slices per pizza).

Diagram:

Pizza 1: 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕
Pizza 2: 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕
Pizza 3: 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕
Pizza 4: 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕
Pizza 5: 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕

Calculation: 5 × 8 = 40

There are 40 slices of pizza in total.

Example 12: Books in Boxes

Word Problem: Sarah has 3 boxes. Each box contains 12 books. How many books does she have in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 3 boxes and each box has 12 books.
2. Set up the multiplication: 3 (boxes) × 12 (books per box).

Diagram:

Box 1: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Box 2: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Box 3: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

Calculation: 3 × 12 = 36

Sarah has 36 books in total.

Example 13: Chairs in a Hall

Word Problem: There are 7 rows of chairs in a hall. Each row has 5 chairs. How many chairs are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 7 rows and each row has 5 chairs.
2. Set up the multiplication: 7 (rows) × 5 (chairs per row).

Diagram:

Row 1: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑
Row 2: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑
Row 3: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑
Row 4: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑
Row 5: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑
Row 6: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑
Row 7: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑

Calculation: 7 × 5 = 35

There are 35 chairs in total.

Example 14: Bottles in Crates

Word Problem: There are 4 crates. Each crate contains 9 bottles. How many bottles are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 4 crates and each crate has 9 bottles.
2. Set up the multiplication: 4 (crates) × 9 (bottles per crate).

Diagram:

Crate 1: 🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼
Crate 2: 🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼
Crate 3: 🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼
Crate 4: 🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼

Calculation: 4 × 9 = 36

There are 36 bottles in total.

Example 15: Balloons for Decorations

Word Problem: There are 8 packs of balloons. Each pack has 6 balloons. How many balloons are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 8 packs and each pack has 6 balloons.
2. Set up the multiplication: 8 (packs) × 6 (balloons per pack).

Diagram:

Pack 1: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 2: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 3: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 4: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 5: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 6: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 7: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Pack 8: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

Calculation: 8 × 6 = 48

There are 48 balloons in total.

Example 16: Cookies on Plates

Word Problem: Jessica baked 10 plates of cookies. Each plate has 4 cookies. How many cookies did Jessica bake?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 10 plates and each plate has 4 cookies.
2. Set up the multiplication: 10 (plates) × 4 (cookies per plate).

Diagram:

Plate 1: 🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 2: 🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 3: 🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 4: 🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 5: 🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 6: 🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 7: 🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 8: 🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 9: 🍪🍪🍪🍪
Plate 10: 🍪🍪🍪🍪

Calculation: 10 × 4 = 40

Jessica baked 40 cookies in total.

Example 17: Plants in Pots

Word Problem: Mark has 5 pots. Each pot has 7 plants. How many plants does Mark have in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 5 pots and each pot has 7 plants.
2. Set up the multiplication: 5 (pots) × 7 (plants per pot).

Diagram:

Pot 1: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Pot 2: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Pot 3: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Pot 4: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Pot 5: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

Calculation: 5 × 7 = 35

Mark has 35 plants in total.

Example 18: Candies in Jars

Word Problem: There are 6 jars. Each jar contains 5 candies. How many candies are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 6 jars and each jar has 5 candies.
2. Set up the multiplication: 6 (jars) × 5 (candies per jar).

Diagram:

Jar 1: 🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬
Jar 2: 🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬
Jar 3: 🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬
Jar 4: 🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬
Jar 5: 🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬
Jar 6: 🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬

Calculation: 6 × 5 = 30

There are 30 candies in total.

Example 19: Fruits in Baskets

Word Problem: There are 4 baskets. Each basket contains 7 fruits. How many fruits are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 4 baskets and each basket has 7 fruits.
2. Set up the multiplication: 4 (baskets) × 7 (fruits per basket).

Diagram:

Basket 1: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
Basket 2: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
Basket 3: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
Basket 4: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

Calculation: 4 × 7 = 28

There are 28 fruits in total.

Example 20: Shoes in Pairs

Word Problem: There are 9 pairs of shoes. How many individual shoes are there?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 9 pairs of shoes and each pair has 2 shoes.
2. Set up the multiplication: 9 (pairs) × 2 (shoes per pair).

Diagram:

Pair 1: 👟👟
Pair 2: 👟👟
Pair 3: 👟👟
Pair 4: 👟👟
Pair 5: 👟👟
Pair 6: 👟👟
Pair 7: 👟👟
Pair 8: 👟👟
Pair 9: 👟👟

Calculation: 9 × 2 = 18

There are 18 individual shoes in total.

Example 21: Toys in Boxes

Word Problem: Mia has 8 boxes. Each box contains 3 toys. How many toys does she have in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 8 boxes and each box has 3 toys.
2. Set up the multiplication: 8 (boxes) × 3 (toys per box).

Diagram:

Box 1: 🧸🧸🧸
Box 2: 🧸🧸🧸
Box 3: 🧸🧸🧸
Box 4: 🧸🧸🧸
Box 5: 🧸🧸🧸
Box 6: 🧸🧸🧸
Box 7: 🧸🧸🧸
Box 8: 🧸🧸🧸

Calculation: 8 × 3 = 24

Mia has 24 toys in total.

Example 22: Eggs in Cartons

Word Problem: There are 5 cartons of eggs. Each carton contains 12 eggs. How many eggs are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 5 cartons and each carton has 12 eggs.
2. Set up the multiplication: 5 (cartons) × 12 (eggs per carton).

Diagram:

Carton 1: 🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚
Carton 2: 🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚
Carton 3: 🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚
Carton 4: 🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚
Carton 5: 🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚

Calculation: 5 × 12 = 60

There are 60 eggs in total.

Example 23: Pens in Cases

Word Problem: John has 4 cases of pens. Each case contains 10 pens. How many pens does he have in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 4 cases and each case has 10 pens.
2. Set up the multiplication: 4 (cases) × 10 (pens per case).

Diagram:

Case 1: 🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️
Case 2: 🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️
Case 3: 🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️
Case 4: 🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️

Calculation: 4 × 10 = 40

John has 40 pens in total.

Example 24: Fish in Tanks

Word Problem: There are 6 tanks in an aquarium. Each tank contains 9 fish. How many fish are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 6 tanks and each tank has 9 fish.
2. Set up the multiplication: 6 (tanks) × 9 (fish per tank).

Diagram:

Tank 1: 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟
Tank 2: 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟
Tank 3: 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟
Tank 4: 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟
Tank 5: 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟
Tank 6: 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟

Calculation: 6 × 9 = 54

There are 54 fish in total.

Example 25: Cupcakes on Trays

Word Problem: There are 3 trays of cupcakes. Each tray has 15 cupcakes. How many cupcakes are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 3 trays and each tray has 15 cupcakes.
2. Set up the multiplication: 3 (trays) × 15 (cupcakes per tray).

Diagram:

Tray 1: 🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁
Tray 2: 🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁
Tray 3: 🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁

Calculation: 3 × 15 = 45

There are 45 cupcakes in total.

Example 26: Seeds in Packets

Word Problem: Lily has 7 packets of seeds. Each packet contains 8 seeds. How many seeds does she have in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 7 packets and each packet has 8 seeds.
2. Set up the multiplication: 7 (packets) × 8 (seeds per packet).

Diagram:

Packet 1: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Packet 2: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Packet 3: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Packet 4: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Packet 5: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Packet 6: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Packet 7: 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

Calculation: 7 × 8 = 56

Lily has 56 seeds in total.

Example 27: Oranges in Baskets

Word Problem: There are 5 baskets of oranges. Each basket contains 6 oranges. How many oranges are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 5 baskets and each basket has 6 oranges.
2. Set up the multiplication: 5 (baskets) × 6 (oranges per basket).

Diagram:

Basket 1: 🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊
Basket 2: 🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊
Basket 3: 🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊
Basket 4: 🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊
Basket 5: 🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊

Calculation: 5 × 6 = 30

There are 30 oranges in total.

Example 28: Hats in Boxes

Word Problem: James has 3 boxes of hats. Each box contains 8 hats. How many hats does he have in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 3 boxes and each box has 8 hats.
2. Set up the multiplication: 3 (boxes) × 8 (hats per box).

Diagram:

Box 1: 🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩
Box 2: 🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩
Box 3: 🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩

Calculation: 3 × 8 = 24

James has 24 hats in total.

Example 29: Water Bottles on Shelves

Word Problem: There are 4 shelves. Each shelf contains 7 water bottles. How many water bottles are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 4 shelves and each shelf has 7 water bottles.
2. Set up the multiplication: 4 (shelves) × 7 (bottles per shelf).

Diagram:

Shelf 1: 🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼
Shelf 2: 🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼
Shelf 3: 🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼
Shelf 4: 🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼🍼

Calculation: 4 × 7 = 28

There are 28 water bottles in total.

Example 30: Apples in Baskets

Word Problem: There are 9 baskets of apples. Each basket contains 4 apples. How many apples are there in total?

Solution:

1. Identify the numbers involved: There are 9 baskets and each basket has 4 apples.
2. Set up the multiplication: 9 (baskets) × 4 (apples per basket).

Diagram:

Basket 1: 🍏🍏🍏🍏
Basket 2: 🍏🍏🍏🍏
Basket 3: 🍏🍏🍏🍏
Basket 4: 🍏🍏🍏🍏
Basket 5: 🍏🍏🍏🍏
Basket 6: 🍏🍏🍏🍏
Basket 7: 🍏🍏🍏🍏
Basket 8: 🍏🍏🍏🍏
Basket 9: 🍏🍏🍏🍏

Calculation: 9 × 4 = 36

There are 36 apples in total.

These examples with diagrams and step-by-step solutions should help kids grasp the concept of multiplication through practical and visual understanding.