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 20 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
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.
Easy come, easy go.
Slow and steady wins the race.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Every dog has its day.
A.What is gained without effort is easily lost.
B.Everyone has a moment of success sometime.
C.The one who complains loudest gets attention.
D.Patient, steady effort succeeds in the end.
2.Write the letter of the meaning next to each saying.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
a blessing in disguise
A picture is worth a thousand words.
break the ice
A.help people relax when they first meet
B.An image can explain more than a long description.
C.You miss people more when they are away.
D.something that seemed bad but turned out well
3.Write the letter of the meaning next to each saying.
bite off more than you can chew
on thin ice
Out of sight, out of mind.
hit the nail on the head
A.in a risky position
B.say something exactly right
C.People forget what they no longer see.
D.take on more than you can manage
LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 20 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Match the Saying to Its Meaning
Set 20. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Easy come, easy go. — A (What is gained without effort is easily lost.) 2. Slow and steady wins the race. — D (Patient, steady effort succeeds in the end.) 3. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. — C (The one who complains loudest gets attention.) 4. Every dog has its day. — B (Everyone has a moment of success sometime.)
2.1. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. — C (You miss people more when they are away.) 2. a blessing in disguise — D (something that seemed bad but turned out well) 3. A picture is worth a thousand words. — B (An image can explain more than a long description.) 4. break the ice — A (help people relax when they first meet)
3.1. bite off more than you can chew — D (take on more than you can manage) 2. on thin ice — A (in a risky position) 3. Out of sight, out of mind. — C (People forget what they no longer see.) 4. hit the nail on the head — B (say something exactly right)
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.5.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.