How do the wrong options work?

They are real idioms that don't fit the context, so the choice tests meaning, not memory. Knowing the phrase isn't enough; it has to match the sentence.

Should kids use idioms in writing?

Sparingly and correctly, yes: one well-placed idiom warms a piece of writing. These sheets build the stock to draw from.

5th grade idioms

5th grade idioms worksheets

Fifth graders choose among near-miss idioms, where only the context settles it, and begin using idioms in their own writing.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.5.5.b.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of sentences you'll fix

Choose the idiom that fits the sentence, and write it on the line.

When the twins giggle at nothing, I know they’re (down to earth / out of the blue / up to something).
Fixed: When the twins giggle at nothing, I know they’re up to something.
Stop (barking up the wrong tree / beating around the bush / counting your chickens) and tell me my audition result!
The new pup and the old cat get along; they’re (barking up the wrong tree / cats and dogs / two peas in a pod).

Every print pulls a new set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 5th grade sheet

5th grade sheets draw from 40 sentences, 8 to a page. 3rd to 6th grade print from the same 40 sentences. The teaching notes below are written for this grade.

A few of the sentences, as the answer key corrects them:

The quiz was easy, but the essay question was a tough nut to crack.
Are you serious, or are you pulling my leg about the talking crow?
Adding extra chili was risky; now I’m in hot water with the mild-salsa crowd.

Fix it. Choose the idiom that fits the sentence, and write it on the line. 8 sentences to fix per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Play idiom charades: act the literal picture (rain, falling cats), guess the phrase, then say the real meaning. The gap between picture and meaning is exactly what makes idioms stick.

Watch for: Idioms cannot be figured out letter by letter; they are learned as whole phrases, like vocabulary with a wink. The context sentence always carries the real meaning. Kids learning English deserve extra patience here: idioms are the least fair part of the language, and collecting them is the only route.

Common questions about 5th grade idioms

How do the wrong options work?: They are real idioms that don't fit the context, so the choice tests meaning, not memory. Knowing the phrase isn't enough; it has to match the sentence.
Should kids use idioms in writing?: Sparingly and correctly, yes: one well-placed idiom warms a piece of writing. These sheets build the stock to draw from.

Related worksheets

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Aligned to Common Core L.5.5.b. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

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