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Grade 6 · Reading

6th grade Idioms and old sayings worksheet

6 printable versionsOn Level10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

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Idioms and old sayings

Grade 6 Reading Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. Bo reads: "The new paint set cost an arm and a leg, so the club saved for months." What does cost an arm and a leg mean?

    • hurt to carry home
    • cost a great deal of money
    • cost almost nothing
    • took a very long time for the shop to make
  2. Esme reads: "The club took on six projects and bit off more than it could chew." What does the idiom mean here?

    • took on more than it could handle
    • ate too much food at the club's lunch
    • gave up too early
    • chose too few things to do
  3. Jun reads: "We go to the planetarium once in a blue moon, so it feels special." What does once in a blue moon mean?

    • each week
    • late at night
    • very rarely
    • when the moon turns blue
  4. The class's first plan failed, and they had to start over. Which idiom fits, Kira?

    • on the fence
    • a piece of cake
    • back to square one
    • bit off more than it could chew
  5. Esme told the surprise-party plan by accident. Which idiom fits, Luz?

    • hit the books
    • bit off more than it could chew
    • broke the ice
    • let the cat out of the bag
  6. Two friends agree on the trip plan. Which idiom fits, Milo?

    • on the fence
    • in hot water
    • under the weather
    • see eye to eye
  7. Zee trains a little every day and finishes the long race. Which adage fits, Noah?

    • Many hands make light work
    • Look before you leap
    • Two heads are better than one
    • Slow and steady wins the race
  8. Noah almost skipped a plain-looking book, but it was the best book of the year. Which adage fits, Pia?

    • You can't have your cake and eat it too
    • Practice makes perfect
    • Two heads are better than one
    • Don't judge a book by its cover
  9. Tala rushed a poster and had to redo it twice. Which adage fits, Ren?

    • Haste makes waste
    • Slow and steady wins the race
    • Don't judge a book by its cover
    • Practice makes perfect
  10. Get cold feet. Intended meaning: ? Why does "get cold feet" fit a singer who almost quits before a show, Ari?

    • It means feeling ready and eager
    • It means the stage floor is cold under the singer's feet
    • It means getting too nervous to go ahead
    • It means telling a secret
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6th grade Idioms and old sayings worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Idioms and old sayings. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can work out what an idiom means from the sentence around it.
  • I can say what an adage advises and match it to a situation.
  • I can tell an idiom from an adage, and fix an idiom used in the wrong place.

Words to know

idiom: A phrase whose meaning is different from its exact words, such as a piece of cake

adage: An old, well-known saying that gives advice, such as haste makes waste

literal meaning: What the exact words say

intended meaning: What the speaker really means

Common mistakes

When reading idioms and sayings, your child took the words at face value.

When reading idioms and sayings, your child gave the meaning of a different, similar phrase. Ask them to reread the exact words and the sentence around them.

When sorting idioms and adages, your child mixed them up. An idiom is a phrase with a special meaning; an adage is an old saying that gives advice or a general truth.

What to say

Ask: could the words really happen here, or do they stand for something?

Ask: does it give advice?

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with idioms and old sayings?

When reading idioms and sayings, your child took the words at face value.

How can I help my child with idioms and old sayings?

Ask: could the words really happen here, or do they stand for something?

Are these 6th grade reading worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 6 reading

See all grade 6 reading

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