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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 19 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."Rome wasn't built in a day." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Big things take time to achieve.
  • B.Building work is slow.
  • C.Rome is a very old city.
2."Two heads are better than one." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Working with someone else helps solve problems.
  • B.Some animals have two heads.
  • C.One person always knows best.
3."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.
4."Where there's a will, there's a way." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Every road leads somewhere.
  • B.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  • C.You need a map to find the way.
5."The pen is mightier than the sword." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  • B.Writing is a kind of fighting.
  • C.Pens are sharper than swords.
6."Don't count your chickens before they hatch." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
  • B.Count eggs carefully.
  • C.Chickens are hard to count.
7."Look before you leap." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Always check the ground before jumping.
  • B.Leaping is dangerous.
  • C.Think carefully before you act.
8."Actions speak louder than words." What does this saying mean?
  • A.What you do shows more than what you say.
  • B.You should shout when you talk.
  • C.Doing things is noisy.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 19 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 19. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Big things take time to achieve.
  2. 2.Working with someone else helps solve problems.
  3. 3.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  4. 4.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  5. 5.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  6. 6.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
  7. 7.Think carefully before you act.
  8. 8.What you do shows more than what you say.

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