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Grade 5 · Reading · Vocabulary

5th Grade Idioms and Figurative Language worksheets

6 printable versionsBuilding ConfidenceAbout 5 minutes eachFree · no account

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Idioms and Figurative Language

Grade 5 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

What does the bold idiom mean? Circle the answer.

    • raining hard
    • start a talk
    • in trouble
    • pick no side
    • very easy
    • do it badly
    • tell a secret
    • go to bed
    • very rarely
    • feeling sick
    • dodge the point
    • a wrong guess
    • work late
    • tell a secret
    • be patient
    • very rarely
    • give up
    • start a talk
    • tell a secret
    • cost too much
    • pick no side
    • be patient
    • a lucky break
    • joking
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5th Grade Idioms and Figurative Language worksheet 1 – printable PDF
Download PDF: 123456

About this worksheet

Idioms and figurative language require students to move beyond the literal words and infer the intended meaning from context asks fifth graders to read closely, connect ideas across sentences, and choose evidence rather than a familiar-sounding answer. Students may picture the literal phrase and miss how the sentence uses it to describe a feeling, strategy, or result. This worksheet uses compact passages and source pairs so students must return to the words on the page before answering.

Students interpret idioms, use context clues, distinguish literal and figurative meanings, and explain why a writer chose a figurative phrase. Support versions use more direct wording. Standard and challenge versions add closer choices, longer evidence, or a second source to compare. Ask your child to point to the line, feature, or reason that proves the answer. If a choice sounds reasonable but cannot be proved from the text, it is not the best reading answer.

What your child will learn

  • Interpret idioms
  • Use the sentence to find a meaning
  • Tell an idiom from its plain words
  • Explain figurative meaning

Common Core standard: L.5.5.A

Worked example

"Break the ice" means to make an uncomfortable moment more relaxed, not to crack a real sheet of ice.

Common mistake

Choosing the literal meaning of an idiom even when the context points elsewhere.

Helpful hint

Read the sentence around the phrase and ask what the phrase means in that situation.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with idioms and figurative language?

Choosing the literal meaning of an idiom even when the context points elsewhere.

How can I help my child with idioms and figurative language?

Read the sentence around the phrase and ask what the phrase means in that situation.

Are these 5th grade reading worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

Similar: Synonyms, Antonyms, and Analogies · Multiple-Meaning Words

More 5th grade vocabulary

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