Class 5 English Worksheet on Idioms: Cat Out of the Bag [Practice & Examples]
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Class 5 English Worksheet on Idioms: Cat Out of the Bag [Practice & Examples]
Have you ever heard someone say “let the cat out of the bag” and wondered what a cat has to do with anything? That is the fun thing about idioms. In Grade 5, you learn that idioms are phrases that mean something different from the actual words. This English worksheet on idioms (let the cat out of the bag, a blessing in disguise) helps you practice understanding two common idioms, matching them to their meanings, and using them in your own writing. Whether you are reading a story, talking with friends, or writing a paragraph, knowing idioms makes your language more colorful and interesting.
Download these English grammar worksheets and practice regularly to strengthen your language skills and build a strong foundation. You can also book a free trial to get expert guidance and improve your reading, writing, and comprehension abilities. The worksheets are designed in a simple and structured way to help K–8 students learn grammar concepts easily and use them confidently in everyday communication.
What Is the Topic?
An idiom is a phrase that has a different meaning from the literal meaning of the words. This worksheet focuses on two common idioms:
- “Let the cat out of the bag” – to reveal a secret accidentally or intentionally. Examples: “Riya spilled the secret,” “Meera revealed the surprise,” “Ravi told everyone the news.”
- “A blessing in disguise” – something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good. Examples: “The lost job was a gift,” “The failure brought new chances,” “The setback became helpful.”
The worksheet also introduces other related idioms such as “spill the beans” (reveal secret information), “keep it under wraps” (keep a secret), “bite your tongue” (stay quiet), “every cloud has a silver lining” (good comes from bad), “mum’s the word” (keep it a secret), “make a mountain out of a molehill” (exaggerate a small problem), “read between the lines” (find hidden meaning), and “turn over a new leaf” (start fresh).
What’s in This Worksheet?
1. Underline the words – identifying examples of revealing secrets and hidden blessings (page 3)
2. Multiple choice questions – matching idioms to their correct meanings (pages 4 and 5)
3. Sentence rewriting – identifying the idiom used in each sentence (pages 6 and 7)
4. Fill in the blanks – completing a passage with the correct word choices (page 8)
5. Paragraph writing – writing about a time someone accidentally revealed a secret using “let the cat out of the bag” (page 9)
6. A variety of common English idioms with their meanings
Definitions, Examples, Techniques, and Tips
This worksheet focuses on understanding idioms. Here are important definitions and examples from the worksheet:
Idiom – A phrase whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words.
“Let the cat out of the bag” – to reveal a secret.
- “Riya spilled the secret.”
- “Meera revealed the surprise.”
- “Ravi told everyone the news.”
- “Asha did not hide it.”
- “Raj spoke about the party.”
“A blessing in disguise” – something bad that becomes good.
- “The lost job was a gift.”
- “The accident seemed unfortunate.”
- “The failure brought new chances.”
- “The setback became helpful.”
- “The problem solved itself.”
Other idioms from the worksheet:
- “Spill the beans” – He revealed the secret information unintentionally.
- “Keep it under wraps” – She kept the secret.
- “Bite your tongue” – He stayed quiet.
- “Every cloud has a silver lining” – Good comes from bad.
- “Mum’s the word” – Keep it a secret.
- “Make a mountain out of a molehill” – She exaggerated a small problem.
- “Read between the lines” – She found hidden meaning.
- “Turn over a new leaf” – She started fresh.
Through exercises such as multiple choice questions and fill in the blanks, students develop a clear understanding of how to identify and use idioms correctly.
Why Is It Important to Learn This?
Learning idioms helps students understand everyday English better. It allows them to:
- Understand what people mean when they use figurative language
- Make their own writing and speaking more expressive and natural
- Enjoy books and movies that use idioms
This skill is essential for reading comprehension, everyday conversations, and becoming fluent in English. The worksheet shows how idioms add color and meaning to language.
Where Will This Knowledge Help You?
Understanding idioms helps students in:
- School exams where figurative language questions are asked
- Reading stories and understanding characters
- Talking naturally with friends and family
- Watching movies and TV shows where idioms are common
It also improves language skills as students learn to think beyond literal meanings.
How to Use This Worksheet?
1. Attempt each question independently without help
2. Read each idiom and think about what it really means
3. For the sentence rewriting exercises, identify which idiom matches the meaning of the sentence
4. For the fill-in-the-blanks passage, choose the word that makes the most sense in the story
5. Review your answers after completing the worksheet
6. Compare your responses with the answer key provided below
7. Practice regularly to improve accuracy
The solutions follow the exact worksheet order, so students should compare their answers carefully.
Important Tips and Tricks
1. To understand an idiom, think about the situation. “Let the cat out of the bag” is about secrets. “A blessing in disguise” is about bad things becoming good
2. Many idioms have interesting origins. Even if you do not know the origin, you can learn the meaning by seeing them used in sentences
3. For the sentence rewriting exercises (pages 6 and 7), read each sentence and decide if it is about revealing a secret (“let the cat out of the bag”) or something bad becoming good (“a blessing in disguise”)
4. For the fill-in-the-blanks passage, pay attention to the story. Ravi plans a surprise, but his brother reveals it. Then missing the bus turns out to be helpful
5. For paragraph writing, think of a real or imaginary situation where someone accidentally told a secret. Use the idiom “let the cat out of the bag” correctly in your paragraph
6. Remember that “a blessing in disguise” always refers to something that seemed bad at first but turned out good
7. Examiners expect you to know the meanings of common idioms and use them correctly in sentences
Complete Answer Key
Page 3 – Underline the Words
Note: This exercise asks students to underline examples of revealing secrets (let the cat out of the bag) and hidden blessings (a blessing in disguise). Here is the classification:
Revealing secrets (let the cat out of the bag):
1. Riya spilled the secret.
3. Meera revealed the surprise.
5. Ravi told everyone the news.
7. Asha did not hide it.
9. Raj spoke about the party.
Hidden blessings (a blessing in disguise):
2. The lost job was a gift.
4. The accident seemed unfortunate.
6. The failure brought new chances.
8. The setback became helpful.
10. The problem solved itself.
Page 4 – Multiple Choice Questions
1. Let the cat out of the bag.
b) She told the secret.
2. A blessing in disguise.
b) The bad luck helped me.
3. Spill the beans.
c) He revealed the secret information unintentionally.
4. Keep it under wraps.
b) She kept the secret.
5. Bite your tongue.
a) He stayed quiet.
Page 5 – Multiple Choice Questions (continued)
6. Every cloud has a silver lining.
b) Good comes from bad.
7. Mum’s the word.
c) Keep it a secret.
8. Make a mountain out of a molehill.
a) She exaggerated a small problem.
9. Read between the lines.
c) She found hidden meaning.
10. Turn over a new leaf.
a) She started fresh.
Pages 6 and 7 – Sentence Rewriting (Idiom Identification)
Page 6:
1. Riya revealed the secret about the gift.
Idiom: let the cat out of the bag
2. The cancelled trip turned out to be good.
Idiom: blessing in disguise
3. Meera told the hidden news about the surprise party.
Idiom: let the cat out of the bag
4. The failure helped me find a better job.
Idiom: blessing in disguise
5. Ravi accidentally told everyone the secret.
Idiom: let the cat out of the bag
Page 7:
6. The missed bus saved me from an accident.
Idiom: blessing in disguise
7. Asha could not keep the secret anymore.
Idiom: let the cat out of the bag
8. The storm forced us to stay home safely.
Idiom: blessing in disguise
9. Raj mentioned the hidden prize too soon.
Idiom: let the cat out of the bag
10. The long wait led to meeting an old friend.
Idiom: blessing in disguise
Page 8 – Exercise No. 4 (Fill in the Blanks)
Read the passage. Choose the correct word from the brackets to complete the paragraph.
Ravi planned a surprise for Meera. He said, “Do not tell anyone.” His brother let the cat out of the bag. Ravi was upset. However, when Meera came home early, she saw all the decorations and smiled. Later, Ravi missed the bus. He found a lost wallet. Missing the bus was a blessing in disguise. He returned it. The neighbor was thankful. Ravi learned that bad events can become a good thing. Next week, Ravi’s friend Raj hid a secret about a school trip. Ravi almost spilled the beans but remembered his own mistake. In the end, everyone was surprised on the trip day. Raj thanked Ravi for being a trustworthy friend.
Page 9 – Exercise No. 5:
Write a short paragraph about a time someone accidentally revealed a secret. Use the idiom “let the cat out of the bag.”
Note: This is a writing task. The answer will be written by the student. The paragraph should describe a situation where a secret was accidentally told. The idiom “let the cat out of the bag” must be used correctly in the paragraph.
Sample answer: “Last week, my older sister was planning a surprise birthday party for my mother. She told me not to say anything. On Monday morning, my father asked why there were so many balloons in the garage. My sister got nervous and accidentally let the cat out of the bag. She told him everything about the party. My father laughed and promised to act surprised. Even though the secret was out, my mother still had a wonderful birthday. My sister learned to be more careful with secrets.”
Answers may vary as long as the paragraph describes someone accidentally revealing a secret and includes the idiom “let the cat out of the bag” correctly.
Page 10 – Get more worksheets (No questions on this page)
Practicing this English worksheet for Grade 5 on idioms (let the cat out of the bag, a blessing in disguise) helps students become more confident in understanding and using colorful figurative language. With regular practice, students can improve their language skills and make their writing and speaking more natural and expressive.