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Adages and Proverbs is a free printable Grade 5 English worksheet on what a well-known saying really means, aligned to Common Core standard L.5.5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 16 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Adages and Proverbs

L.5.5

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1."Better late than never." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Being late is always fine.
  • B.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  • C.Never be early.
2."Many hands make light work." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Work is best done alone.
  • B.A job is easier when lots of people help.
  • C.Hands are not heavy.
3."Necessity is the mother of invention." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Inventors are always mothers.
  • B.People invent things when they really need them.
  • C.Inventions are not needed.
4."Where there's a will, there's a way." What does this saying mean?
  • A.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  • B.You need a map to find the way.
  • C.Every road leads somewhere.
5."Two heads are better than one." What does this saying mean?
  • A.One person always knows best.
  • B.Some animals have two heads.
  • C.Working with someone else helps solve problems.
6."Rome wasn't built in a day." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Building work is slow.
  • B.Big things take time to achieve.
  • C.Rome is a very old city.
7."Don't put all your eggs in one basket." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Carry eggs carefully.
  • B.Do not risk everything on one plan.
  • C.Baskets break easily.
8."All that glitters is not gold." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Shiny things are always gold.
  • B.Something that looks good may not be worth much.
  • C.Gold does not shine.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 16 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 16. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  2. 2.A job is easier when lots of people help.
  3. 3.People invent things when they really need them.
  4. 4.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  5. 5.Working with someone else helps solve problems.
  6. 6.Big things take time to achieve.
  7. 7.Do not risk everything on one plan.
  8. 8.Something that looks good may not be worth much.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.5.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.