Math MysteriesMake a mystery

Place value Math Mystery Worksheets

These free printable place value math mysteries (grades 2–3) turn place value practice into a whodunit: kids solve place value problems to decode clues and unmask the culprit. Every case has one verified solution, prints in a click, and is free. Make one now →

108 place value cases to print

Click any case to solve online or print the PDF + answer key.

Browse more worksheets

By grade
1st grade292nd grade303rd grade414th grade605th grade496th grade417th grade198th grade179th grade210th grade12
By theme
🚀Space35Sports46🐾Animals33🏴‍☠️Pirates69👻Spooky42🦕Dinosaurs15🍪Food & treats11🐉Fantasy28
Other skills
Addition181Subtraction167Multiplication182Division180Rounding137Skip counting57Missing addends68Fractions of a number50Percentages46Exponents62Order of operations86Integers18Square roots23Pythagorean theorem22Two-step equations30

FAQ

Are these place value math mysteries free to print?
Yes — free to solve online and free to download as a printable PDF, with a built-in answer key and no login.
How does a math mystery work?
Kids solve math problems to decode clues, then use the clues to cross suspects off a grid until one culprit remains. The math is the key; the mystery is the motivation.
Can I make a new place value case?
Yes. Generate a brand-new mystery in about a minute — pick the grade, reading level, and interests, and it's verified to have exactly one solution before you print it.

Keep exploring

Free Printable Math Mystery Worksheets (Grades 1–5)
Hundreds of free, printable math mystery worksheets — pick a grade, print the case, and your kid solves math to catch the culprit.
Math Mystery Games for a Kid Who Hates Worksheets
An honest guide to detective-style math for kids who groan at drills — what actually works, and when a mystery beats a game.
Detective Math: Story-Driven Practice for Ages 6–12
How whodunit math turns arithmetic into deduction — the method, the research-backed why, and how to start today for free.