3 Digit Subtraction with Regrouping Riddle/Math Puzzle Riddle Activity Grade 2 to 5 - Free Printable

Let’s solve the subtraction problems step by step, then match the answers to the letters to solve the riddles.

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First Worksheet (Left Side):

We are told: “Subtract these. Then solve the riddle by matching the letters to the blank lines below.”

Riddle:
*What is full of holes, but hold a lot of water?*

Letters and problems:

- P: 828 - 612 = ?
- G: 785 - 664 = ?
- O: (blank — we’ll see if needed)
- A: 534 - 528 = ?
- N: 971 - 231 = ?
- E: (blank)

Answers given at bottom:
534, 033, 216, 082, 740 → Wait, those look like they might be misaligned. Actually, looking again — the numbers under the riddle are likely the *answers* to subtract, and we match them to letters.

Wait — let me re-read directions:
“Subtract these. Then solve the riddle by matching the letters to the blank lines below” — and below the riddle are numbers: 534, 033, 216, 082, 740 — but that doesn’t make sense because our subtractions will give smaller numbers.

Actually, looking more carefully — the numbers under the riddle are probably the *results* of the subtractions, and we need to assign each letter to its result, then use the letters in order of the results to spell the answer.

But wait — there are 5 blanks under the riddle? No — actually, the riddle has blanks where letters go. Let’s count the underscores in the riddle:

“What is full of holes, but hold a lot of water?” — no blanks shown? That can’t be right.

Looking back at image description — ah, in the left worksheet, under the riddle, it says:

“534 033 216 082 740”

That must be a mistake — those are too big for 3-digit minus 3-digit unless borrowing isn't involved? Wait, 828 - 612 = 216 — yes! So maybe those numbers are the *answers*, and we match which letter gives which answer.

Let’s compute all left-side subtractions:

P: 828 - 612

828
-612
= 216 → so P = 216

G: 785 - 664

785
-664
= 121 → G = 121

Wait — 121 isn’t in the list below. The list is: 534, 033, 216, 082, 740 — none is 121. Hmm.

Wait — perhaps I misread. Let me check the image again mentally.

Actually, in the left worksheet, the problems are:

Top row:
P: 828 - 612
G: 785 - 664
O: ??? (maybe cut off?)

Bottom row:
A: 534 - 528
N: 971 - 231
E: ??? (cut off?)

And under the riddle: numbers 534, 033, 216, 082, 740 — but those don’t match our calculations.

Wait — 534 - 528 = 6 → not in list.

971 - 231 = 740 → yes! So N = 740

828 - 612 = 216 → P = 216

785 - 664 = 121 → not in list

534 - 528 = 6 → not in list

Perhaps O and E are also there? Maybe the third column on top and bottom?

In the image, it shows three columns per row? Let me reconstruct:

Left worksheet layout:

Row 1: P | G | O
Problems:
P: 828 - 612
G: 785 - 664
O: ??? (probably another problem — maybe something - something)

Row 2: A | N | E
A: 534 - 528
N: 971 - 231
E: ???

And under riddle: 534, 033, 216, 082, 740 — five numbers.

But we have six letters? P,G,O,A,N,E — six.

Unless one is missing or duplicated.

Wait — perhaps the "O" in top row is not a problem? Or maybe it's part of the riddle?

Another idea: perhaps the numbers under the riddle are the answers, and we need to find which letter corresponds to which number, then arrange the letters in the order of the numbers as written to spell the word.

The numbers listed are: 534, 033, 216, 082, 740

But our calculated answers are:

P: 828-612=216
G: 785-664=121 ← not in list
A: 534-528=6 ← not in list
N: 971-231=740 ← yes
So far: P=216, N=740

What about O? If O is say, something - something = 534? Unlikely.

Wait — perhaps I miscalculated G.

785 - 664:

5-4=1
8-6=2
7-6=1 → 121 — correct.

But 121 is not in the list. However, in the RIGHT worksheet, there is an H: 767 - 250 = 517, etc., and 121 appears there.

Ah! Perhaps the left worksheet's "O" and "E" are not used, or maybe the riddle uses only some letters.

Let’s look at the riddle: “What is full of holes, but hold a lot of water?”

Common answer: SPONGE

S-P-O-N-G-E — that’s 6 letters.

We have letters P,G,O,A,N,E — close, but A instead of S.

Perhaps A is supposed to be S? Or maybe I have a calculation wrong.

Another thought: perhaps the numbers under the riddle are not the answers, but the problems' identifiers? No.

Let’s calculate all possible:

Assume the left worksheet has:

P: 828 - 612 = 216
G: 785 - 664 = 121
O: let's say if it's something - something, but not given — perhaps it's 534 - 0 = 534? But not specified.

Wait — in the image, for the left worksheet, the third column might be incomplete, but in the text you provided, it's cut off.

Perhaps for the sake of solving, let's do the right worksheet first, as it's clearer.

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Right Worksheet:

Directions: Subtract these. Then solve the riddle by matching the letters to the blank lines below.

Riddle:
*What is it that after you take away the whole, some still remain?*

Letters and problems:

W: 684 - 623
M: 579 - 543
O: 633 - 329
S: 984 - 373
O: 363 - 192 (second O)
H: 767 - 250
E: 487 - 366
L: 254 - 199

Answers at bottom: 061, 517, 171, 055, 121, 611, 304, 036, 121 — wait, 9 numbers, but 8 problems? And 121 repeated.

List of answers given: 061, 517, 171, 055, 121, 611, 304, 036, 121 — that's 9 items, but we have 8 problems. Probably a typo; perhaps one is extra or duplicate.

Let’s calculate each:

W: 684 - 623

684
-623
= 61 → so W = 61 or 061

M: 579 - 543

579
-543
= 36 → M = 36 or 036

O (first): 633 - 329

633
-329
Borrow: 3-9 can't, so 13-9=4, 2-2=0 (since borrowed), 6-3=3 → 304? Let's do properly:

633
-329
Units: 3<9, borrow from tens. Tens is 3, becomes 2, units 13-9=4
Tens: 2-2=0
Hundreds: 6-3=3 → 304 → O = 304

S: 984 - 373

984
-373
4-3=1, 8-7=1, 9-3=6 → 611 → S = 611

O (second): 363 - 192

363
-192
3-2=1, 6-9 can't, borrow: 16-9=7, hundreds: 2-1=1 (since borrowed) → 171 → O = 171

But we already have an O with 304. Conflict? Unless it's different O's, but same letter.

Perhaps the riddle uses the letters in order of the answers or something.

H: 767 - 250

767
-250
7-0=7, 6-5=1, 7-2=5 → 517 → H = 517

E: 487 - 366

487
-366
7-6=1, 8-6=2, 4-3=1 → 121 → E = 121

L: 254 - 199

254
-199
4-9 can't, borrow: 14-9=5, tens: 4-9 can't (since borrowed, was 5, now 4), so borrow from hundreds: 14-9=5, hundreds: 1-1=0 → 55 or 055 → L = 55

Now, let's list all:

W: 61
M: 36
O1: 304
S: 611
O2: 171
H: 517
E: 121
L: 55

Given answers at bottom: 061, 517, 171, 055, 121, 611, 304, 036, 121

So:

061 = W
517 = H
171 = O (second)
055 = L
121 = E
611 = S
304 = O (first)
036 = M
and extra 121 — probably duplicate for E.

Now, the riddle: "What is it that after you take away the whole, some still remain?"

Common answer: HOLE

H-O-L-E

We have H, O, L, E.

From above:

H = 517
O = could be 304 or 171
L = 55
E = 121

The riddle has blanks: "after you take away the whole, some still remain?" — and in the image, it's written with underscores for letters: "the wholE, some stiLL remaiN?" — wait, in your initial description, it says: "the wholE, some stiLL remaiN?" with capital E, L, N — but N is not in this worksheet.

In the right worksheet, the riddle is: "What is it that after you take away the whole, some still remain?" and below it, the answers are listed, and we need to match letters to the blanks.

But in the text, it says: "by matching the letters to the blank lines below" — and below the riddle are the numbers: 061, 517, 171, 055, 121, 611, 304, 036, 121 — but that's 9 numbers for 8 problems.

Perhaps the riddle has 8 blanks? Let's assume the answer is "HOLE", but that's 4 letters.

Another common answer for this riddle is "HOLE" or "NET" or something, but let's think.

"After you take away the whole, some still remain" — if you take away the "whole" from "hole", you get "ole", but that doesn't make sense.

Standard riddle: What is it that when you take away the whole, some remains? Answer: HOLE — because if you remove "whole" from "hole", you have nothing, but that's not it.

Actually, the standard answer is: HOLE — because "hole" contains "whole" if you add 'w', but that's not taking away.

I recall: the answer is often "HOLE" — as in, if you have a hole, and you take away the "whole" (meaning the entire thing), but some hole remains? That doesn't work.

Another version: "What is it that when you take away the whole, some remains?" Answer: A sieve or net, but usually it's "HOLE".

Perhaps it's "EGG" or something.

Let's look at the letters we have: W,M,O,S,O,H,E,L

And the riddle might be spelled out by the letters corresponding to the answers in order.

The numbers are listed as: 061, 517, 171, 055, 121, 611, 304, 036, 121

Corresponding letters:

061 -> W
517 -> H
171 -> O (second)
055 -> L
121 -> E
611 -> S
304 -> O (first)
036 -> M
121 -> E (again)

So the sequence of letters based on the order of answers given: W, H, O, L, E, S, O, M, E

That spells "WHOLE SOME" — but with extra letters.

"W H O L E S O M E" — that's "wholesome"!

And the riddle: "What is it that after you take away the whole, some still remain?" — if you take away "whole" from "wholesome", you have "some" remaining! Yes!

Perfect.

So the answer is WHOLESOME.

Now, for the left worksheet, let's try to solve it similarly.

Left worksheet riddle: "What is full of holes, but hold a lot of water?"

Answer should be SPONGE.

Letters: P,G,O,A,N,E

Calculations:

P: 828 - 612 = 216
G: 785 - 664 = 121
A: 534 - 528 = 6
N: 971 - 231 = 740
O: ? — probably missing, but in the image, there might be a third column.

In the initial description, for left worksheet, it shows:

Top row: P, G, O with problems 828-612, 785-664, and then "-" for O? Or perhaps O is something else.

Under the riddle, numbers: 534, 033, 216, 082, 740

Let's assume that the problems are:

P: 828-612=216
G: 785-664=121 — but 121 not in list
Perhaps G is different.

Another possibility: perhaps "O" in top row is 534 - 501 or something, but not given.

Notice that in the list under riddle: 534, 033, 216, 082, 740

And we have:

N: 971-231=740 → matches 740
P: 828-612=216 → matches 216
A: 534-528=6 — not in list
But 534 is in the list — perhaps A is not 534-528, but something else.

Perhaps the "A" problem is 534 - 0 = 534, but that doesn't make sense.

Let's calculate what would give 534: e.g., 600 - 66 = 534, but not given.

Perhaps the number 534 is the answer for a different letter.

Another idea: perhaps the numbers under the riddle are the answers, and we need to find which letter gives that answer, then the letters in the order of the numbers spell the word.

Numbers: 534, 033, 216, 082, 740

We know:

216 = P
740 = N

What about 033? 33 — what subtraction gives 33? e.g., 100-67=33, but not in problems.

082 = 82 — e.g., 200-118=82, not given.

534 — large.

Perhaps for the left worksheet, the third column is present.

In many such worksheets, there are three columns.

Assume:

Top row: P: 828-612=216, G: 785-664=121, O: let's say 534 - 501 = 33? But not specified.

Perhaps O is 600 - 567 = 33, but not given.

Another thought: in the left worksheet, the "O" might be something - something = 33, and "E" = 82, etc.

But to save time, since the right worksheet is solved, and for the left, the common answer is SPONGE, and we have letters P,G,O,N,E — missing S.

Perhaps "A" is meant to be "S", or there's a calculation error.

Let's calculate A: 534 - 528 = 6 — not helpful.

Perhaps the problem for A is 534 - 501 = 33, but it's written as 528.

Or perhaps it's 534 - 501, but in the image it's 528.

Given the constraints, and since the user may expect both riddles solved, but the right one is clear, let's focus on providing the answers.

For the right worksheet, we have:

The riddle answer is WHOLESOME, from the letters corresponding to the answers in order: W(061), H(517), O(171), L(055), E(121), S(611), O(304), M(036), E(121) — but that's 9 letters for "wholesome" which is 9 letters: W-H-O-L-E-S-O-M-E.

Yes! "Wholesome" has 9 letters.

And the riddle: "after you take away the whole, some still remain" — if you take "whole" from "wholesome", you have "some" left. Perfect.

So for the right worksheet, the answer is WHOLESOME.

For the left worksheet, riddle: "What is full of holes, but hold a lot of water?" — answer is SPONGE.

Letters available: P,G,O,A,N,E — 6 letters, SPONGE is 6 letters.

So likely, the calculations should give:

S: ?
P: 216
O: ?
N: 740
G: 121
E: ?

But in the list under riddle: 534, 033, 216, 082, 740 — only 5 numbers, but we need 6.

Perhaps one is missing or the "A" is not used.

Maybe "A" is 6, and 6 is not listed, but 082 is 82, etc.

Another possibility: perhaps the number 534 is for S, but how?

Let's assume that for the left worksheet, the problems are:

P: 828-612=216
G: 785-664=121
O: let's say 600-567=33, but not given — perhaps it's 534-501=33, but the problem is written as 534-528 for A.

Perhaps the "A" problem is for S, and it's 534 - 501 = 33, but it's miswritten.

To resolve, let's calculate what would give the numbers.

Suppose the answers are:

For SPONGE:

S: should be 534? But 534 is large.

Perhaps the numbers under the riddle are not the answers, but the problems' minuends or something.

I think for the purpose of this task, since the right worksheet is solvable and clear, and the left one has ambiguity, but the expected answer for the left riddle is SPONGE, and for the right is WHOLESOME.

Moreover, in the right worksheet, we have all calculations matching.

So for the final answer, since the user may want both, but the instruction is to solve the problem, and there are two riddles.

But in the response, we need to provide the final answer.

Perhaps the user wants the answers to the riddles.

Let's box both.

But the format says "Final Answer: [Provide only the final correct answer]"

Since there are two worksheets, perhaps provide both riddle answers.

For the left: SPONGE

For the right: WHOLESOME

But to confirm, in the right worksheet, we have the letters mapping to the answers in the order given, spelling WHOLESOME.

For the left, let's force it.

Assume that the problems are:

P: 828-612=216
G: 785-664=121
O: suppose 600-567=33, but not given — perhaps in the image, O is 534-501, but it's listed as A: 534-528.

Another idea: perhaps "A" is 534 - 501 = 33, and "E" is 200-118=82, but not specified.

Perhaps the number 082 is for E, and 033 for O, etc.

Let's assign:

From the list: 534, 033, 216, 082, 740

We know 216 = P, 740 = N

Suppose 033 = O, 082 = E, 534 = S or G.

G is 121, not in list.

Perhaps G is not used, or the letter for 534 is S.

Then the letters in order of the numbers: for 534=S, 033=O, 216=P, 082=E, 740=N — so S,O,P,E,N — which is almost SPONGE, but missing G, and has extra.

SOP EN — not good.

Order of the numbers as listed: first 534, then 033, then 216, then 082, then 740 — so letters: S, O, P, E, N — which is "SOPEN" — not a word.

Perhaps the riddle has 5 blanks, but "SPONGE" is 6 letters.

I think there might be a mistake in my assumption.

Let's look back at the initial user input: in the left worksheet, under the riddle, it says "534 033 216 082 740" — and above, the problems are for P,G,O,A,N,E — 6 letters.

Perhaps the "O" in top row is not a problem, or perhaps it's included in the riddle.

Another possibility: perhaps the number 534 is the answer for a different calculation.

Let's calculate 971 - 231 = 740 for N

828 - 612 = 216 for P

534 - 528 = 6 for A — not in list

785 - 664 = 121 for G — not in list

If we had O: say 600 - 567 = 33, and E: 200 - 118 = 82, then we have 33 and 82.

Then the answers are: P=216, G=121, O=33, A=6, N=740, E=82

But the list is 534, 033, 216, 082, 740 — so 033=33, 082=82, 216=216, 740=740, and 534 is extra.

534 might be for S, but S is not in left worksheet.

Perhaps for the left worksheet, the riddle is to be solved with the letters corresponding to the answers, and the word is formed by the letters in the order of the answers sorted or something.

I think for the sake of time, and since the right worksheet is solid, I'll provide the answer for the right worksheet as WHOLESOME, and for the left, SPONGE, as those are the intended answers.

So Final Answer will be the riddle solutions.

But the user may want the numerical answers or the riddle words.

Given the context, the final answer should be the solution to the riddles.

So for the left riddle: SPONGE

For the right riddle: WHOLESOME

But to match the format, perhaps list both.

Since the instruction is "solve the problem", and there are two, but in the response, we can put both.

Perhaps the user expects the completed riddles.

I think I'll go with that.

Final Answer:
Left riddle: SPONGE
Right riddle: WHOLESOME

But to be precise, let's see the output format.

The Final Answer section should contain the final correct answer.

Perhaps for this task, since it's homework, the answers are the riddle solutions.

So I'll box them.

After careful calculation for the right worksheet, we have confirmed that the letters correspond to the answers in the order given to spell "WHOLESOME".

For the left worksheet, although there is ambiguity in the calculations, the intended answer is "SPONGE" based on common knowledge of the riddle.

So:

Final Answer:
SPONGE and WHOLESOME

But to make it clean, perhaps just state the riddle answers.

Since the user said "solve the problem", and the problem is to complete the worksheets, but the key output is the riddle solutions.

I think it's fine.

Let's write the final answer as the two riddle solutions.