English verb practice worksheet for students to fill in the correct verb from a provided list.

Here's the completed worksheet with the correct verb for each sentence, based on context and common collocations. I’ll explain the reasoning for each answer.

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1. A relative, a doctor and a museum are people and things you can _visit_.
→ You “visit” people (relatives) or places (doctor’s office, museum).

2. You can _pay_ a visit, a dentist and for your mistakes.
→ “Pay a visit” is a fixed phrase. You also “pay” a dentist (for services) and “pay for” mistakes (suffer consequences).

3. A cold, a bus and a train are things you can _catch_.
→ You “catch” a cold, a bus, or a train — all idiomatic uses of “catch.”

4. Milk, luck and leaves can all _spill_.
→ Milk spills from a glass; “spill your luck” isn’t literal but “spill” fits metaphorically; leaves can spill from trees in autumn. *Note: “fall” would be more natural for leaves, but “spill” is the only verb that works across all three.* “Spill” is the best fit from the box.

5. You can _walk away_ from a challenge, responsibility and a deal.
→ You “walk away” from responsibilities, deals, or even challenges (metaphorically, meaning to abandon them).

6. Lies, jokes and stories are something you _tell_.
→ You “tell” lies, jokes, and stories — standard collocation.

7. Oil, beans and guts are all things you can _spill_.
→ Again, “spill” works: oil spills, spill beans (idiom for revealing secrets), spill your guts (confess emotionally).

8. Your memory, your job and weight are things you can _lose_.
→ You can “lose” your memory (dementia), your job (get fired), or lose weight.

9. You can _ride_ a horse, a car and a train.
→ Wait — “ride” is not in the box! Let’s check the box again... The box has: lose, turn, pay, draw, grow, visit, fly, walk away, catch, pool, share, show, spill, tell, play, take, split, follow, tie, make, call, share, write.

→ None of these directly mean “ride.” But “take” can work: “take a horse” (less common), “take a car” (as in “take a taxi”), “take a train.” Also, “catch” was used earlier — but “take” is better here.

Actually, “take” is the best fit:
- You can take a horse (e.g., “take a horse ride” — though awkward, it’s acceptable)
- You can take a car (as in “take a car to work”)
- You can take a train (standard)

Alternatively, “ride” isn’t an option — so take is the intended answer.

10. A map, a picture and attention are all things you can _draw_.
→ You “draw” a map, “draw” a picture, and “draw attention” (idiom).

11. Money, ideas and resources are things you can _share_.
→ You “share” money, ideas, resources — all logical.

12. Instruments, sports and roles are things you can _play_.
→ You “play” instruments, “play” sports, “play” roles (in acting or life).

13. Attention, support and attitude are things you can _show_.
→ You “show” attention, support, and attitude (e.g., “show a positive attitude”).

14. Potatoes, hair and feelings are things you can _grow_.
→ You “grow” potatoes, hair, and feelings (emotions can “grow” over time).

15. Responsibility, tests and credit are things you can _take_.
→ You “take” responsibility, “take” tests, “take” credit (claim credit for something).

16. A meal, a taxi and a room are all things you can _take_.
→ You “take” a meal (eat), “take” a taxi (ride), “take” a room (book/occupy).

17. A pizza, costs and time is something you can _split_.
→ You “split” a pizza (divide), “split” costs (share expenses), “split” time (allocate).

18. Airplanes, birds and rumors are things you can _fly_.
→ Airplanes and birds “fly.” Rumors “fly” (spread quickly — idiom: “rumors fly”).

19. Ribbons, shoelaces and knots are things you can _tie_.
→ You “tie” ribbons, shoelaces, and knots — perfect fit.

20. You can _call_ a box, a chair, a suit, a statement etc.
→ This is tricky. You “call” a box? Not really. But “call” can mean to name or designate: “call it a box,” “call it a chair,” “call it a suit,” “call it a statement.” It’s a bit abstract, but “call” is the only verb that can be used this way metaphorically.

Alternatively, “make” could work (“make a box,” “make a statement”) — but “make a chair” is odd unless you’re building it. “Call” is likely intended as “refer to as.”

21. Advice, instincts and directions are things you can _follow_.
→ You “follow” advice, instincts (go with your gut), and directions (navigate).

22. Symphonies, books and emails are things you can _write_.
→ You “write” symphonies (compose), books, and emails.

23. A strike, a meeting and an election are things you can _call_.
→ You “call” a strike (organize/announce), “call” a meeting (summon), “call” an election (officially announce/hold).

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✔ Final Answer Key:

1. visit
2. pay
3. catch
4. spill
5. walk away
6. tell
7. spill
8. lose
9. take
10. draw
11. share
12. play
13. show
14. grow
15. take
16. take
17. split
18. fly
19. tie
20. call
21. follow
22. write
23. call

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💡 Explanation Summary:

This worksheet tests verb-noun collocations — common word pairings in English. Some verbs have multiple meanings or idiomatic uses (like “spill,” “take,” “call”). The key is to find the verb that makes sense with all the nouns in the sentence, even if one item is metaphorical (e.g., “spill your guts,” “fly rumors”).

Many answers rely on idioms or figurative language, which is common in ESL/EFL materials to build natural fluency.

Let me know if you’d like a printable version or flashcards for review!