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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 17 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."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.
2."Rome wasn't built in a day." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Building work is slow.
  • B.Rome is a very old city.
  • C.Big things take time to achieve.
3."A stitch in time saves nine." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Nine stitches are always needed.
  • B.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
  • C.Sewing is faster than shopping.
4."The pen is mightier than the sword." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  • B.Pens are sharper than swords.
  • C.Writing is a kind of fighting.
5."Actions speak louder than words." What does this saying mean?
  • A.What you do shows more than what you say.
  • B.Doing things is noisy.
  • C.You should shout when you talk.
6."Haste makes waste." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Waste should be thrown away quickly.
  • B.Hurrying saves time.
  • C.Rushing leads to mistakes.
7."Better late than never." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Being late is always fine.
  • B.Never be early.
  • C.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
8."Don't count your chickens before they hatch." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Count eggs carefully.
  • B.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
  • C.Chickens are hard to count.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 17 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 17. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  2. 2.Big things take time to achieve.
  3. 3.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
  4. 4.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  5. 5.What you do shows more than what you say.
  6. 6.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  7. 7.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  8. 8.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.

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