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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 23 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.
  • on thin ice
  • Curiosity killed the cat.
  • a blessing in disguise
  • Easy come, easy go.
  • A.Being too nosy can get you into trouble.
  • B.in a risky position
  • C.What is gained without effort is easily lost.
  • D.something that seemed bad but turned out well
2.Write the letter of the meaning next to each saying.
  • Every dog has its day.
  • The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
  • once in a blue moon
  • bite off more than you can chew
  • A.take on more than you can manage
  • B.very rarely
  • C.The one who complains loudest gets attention.
  • D.Everyone has a moment of success sometime.
3.Write the letter of the meaning next to each saying.
  • the ball is in your court
  • hit the nail on the head
  • A picture is worth a thousand words.
  • Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
  • A.An image can explain more than a long description.
  • B.it is your turn to decide or act
  • C.You miss people more when they are away.
  • D.say something exactly right

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 23 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Match the Saying to Its Meaning

Set 23. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. on thin ice — B (in a risky position) 2. Curiosity killed the cat. — A (Being too nosy can get you into trouble.) 3. a blessing in disguise — D (something that seemed bad but turned out well) 4. Easy come, easy go. — C (What is gained without effort is easily lost.)
  2. 2.1. Every dog has its day. — D (Everyone has a moment of success sometime.) 2. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. — C (The one who complains loudest gets attention.) 3. once in a blue moon — B (very rarely) 4. bite off more than you can chew — A (take on more than you can manage)
  3. 3.1. the ball is in your court — B (it is your turn to decide or act) 2. hit the nail on the head — D (say something exactly right) 3. A picture is worth a thousand words. — A (An image can explain more than a long description.) 4. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. — C (You miss people more when they are away.)

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