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Match the Saying to Its Meaning is a free printable Grade 5 English worksheet on joining an idiom or adage to what it means, aligned to Common Core standard L.5.5. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 13 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Match the Saying to Its Meaning

L.5.5

NameDate

Write the letter of the meaning next to each one.

1.Write the letter of the meaning next to each saying.
  • The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
  • Every dog has its day.
  • the ball is in your court
  • Slow and steady wins the race.
  • A.Patient, steady effort succeeds in the end.
  • B.The one who complains loudest gets attention.
  • C.Everyone has a moment of success sometime.
  • D.it is your turn to decide or act
2.Write the letter of the meaning next to each saying.
  • break the ice
  • bite off more than you can chew
  • Curiosity killed the cat.
  • Out of sight, out of mind.
  • A.help people relax when they first meet
  • B.Being too nosy can get you into trouble.
  • C.People forget what they no longer see.
  • D.take on more than you can manage
3.Write the letter of the meaning next to each saying.
  • Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
  • A picture is worth a thousand words.
  • hit the nail on the head
  • call it a day
  • A.You miss people more when they are away.
  • B.say something exactly right
  • C.stop working for now
  • D.An image can explain more than a long description.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 13 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Match the Saying to Its Meaning

Set 13. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. — B (The one who complains loudest gets attention.) 2. Every dog has its day. — C (Everyone has a moment of success sometime.) 3. the ball is in your court — D (it is your turn to decide or act) 4. Slow and steady wins the race. — A (Patient, steady effort succeeds in the end.)
  2. 2.1. break the ice — A (help people relax when they first meet) 2. bite off more than you can chew — D (take on more than you can manage) 3. Curiosity killed the cat. — B (Being too nosy can get you into trouble.) 4. Out of sight, out of mind. — C (People forget what they no longer see.)
  3. 3.1. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. — A (You miss people more when they are away.) 2. A picture is worth a thousand words. — D (An image can explain more than a long description.) 3. hit the nail on the head — B (say something exactly right) 4. call it a day — C (stop working for now)

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.5.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.