Filling in missing numbers is where counting turns into understanding number order. A child can count to twenty out loud and still pause when asked "what comes after 14?" or "what's between 16 and 18?" These worksheets target exactly that gap. Instead of reciting numbers, the child has to look at a sequence, work out what's missing, and reason about where each number belongs.
This is a free set of seven worksheets that build from easy to challenging. Early sheets stay within 1β10 with two gaps per row; later sheets move into the teen numbers and then the full 1β20 range with more gaps. Work through them as a ladder, or jump to the level that matches your child.
Why Missing-Number Practice Helps
Counting and understanding number order are two different skills. Reciting "one, two, three" is memory; knowing that 7 comes right before 8 no matter where you start is understanding. To fill a blank, the child finds a number they know and counts forward or back to the gap, which builds the mental number line that underpins addition, subtraction, and later mental math.
The teen numbers (11β20) deserve special attention, because that is where children first meet the pattern of "ten and some more," and where names like thirteen and fifteen don't quite follow the spoken pattern. Practising this range builds the place-value sense that matters later.
Encourage reasoning, not guessing. When a child is stuck, ask "what number do you know here, and what comes next?" Counting on from a known number is the strategy that does the work.
How to Use These Worksheets
- Print on A4 or US Letter paper.
- Use pencils so children can erase and self-correct.
- Have your child find a number they know first, then count on to the blank.
- Encourage them to read the whole row before writing.
- Review together afterward and ask how they worked out each missing number. The explanation matters more than the answer.
The Worksheets
The set is grouped into three stages. Start at the stage that fits your child and move up as they get confident.
Stage 1 β Numbers 1 to 10
Two gaps per row within 1β10, a confident starting range for early learners. Worksheets 1 and 2 are the same level with different blank positions, so the second is good reinforcement without raising difficulty.
Worksheet 1 β 1β10, two missing numbers per row, gentle introduction.
Worksheet 2 β 1β10, two missing numbers, varied blank positions for extra practice at the same level.
Stage 2 β Teen Numbers (11 to 20)
The teen numbers are where counting gets less predictable, so they need their own practice. These two sheets focus on 11β20 with two gaps per row.
Worksheet 3 β 11β20, two missing numbers, mixed gap positions.
Worksheet 4 β 11β20, two missing numbers, different blank patterns for reinforcement.
Stage 3 β Full Range & Review (1 to 20)
Once both ranges are solid, these sheets span the full 1β20 and add a third gap per row, so children rely on true number sense rather than a memorised stretch.
Worksheet 5 β full 1β20, three missing numbers per row, mixed ranges.
Worksheet 6 β full 1β20, three missing numbers in carefully placed positions, the hardest practice sheet, requiring children to think both forward and backward within a row.
Worksheet 7 β full 1β20 review, a mix of two and three gaps in varied positions. Works well as a recap or an informal check of how confidently your child knows number order.
What Children Build From This Set
- number order and sequencing across 1β20
- counting-on from a known number, not just reciting from one
- early place-value sense through the teen numbers
- logical reasoning and working memory
- visual scanning and attention to detail
- fine-motor control through writing the numbers
A calm, screen-free activity that grows with your child and lays the groundwork for addition, subtraction, and mental math.
Keep Going
For more early-maths practice to pair with this, explore the full Number Activities Collection.
