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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 2 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."A stitch in time saves nine." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
  • B.Nine stitches are always needed.
  • C.Sewing is faster than shopping.
2."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.
3."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.
4."Honesty is the best policy." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Telling the truth is the wisest choice.
  • B.Rules should be written down.
  • C.Honest people make the rules.
5."Rome wasn't built in a day." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Big things take time to achieve.
  • B.Rome is a very old city.
  • C.Building work is slow.
6."All that glitters is not gold." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Something that looks good may not be worth much.
  • B.Gold does not shine.
  • C.Shiny things are always gold.
7."Necessity is the mother of invention." What does this saying mean?
  • A.People invent things when they really need them.
  • B.Inventions are not needed.
  • C.Inventors are always mothers.
8."Haste makes waste." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Waste should be thrown away quickly.
  • B.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  • C.Hurrying saves time.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
  2. 2.What you do shows more than what you say.
  3. 3.A job is easier when lots of people help.
  4. 4.Telling the truth is the wisest choice.
  5. 5.Big things take time to achieve.
  6. 6.Something that looks good may not be worth much.
  7. 7.People invent things when they really need them.
  8. 8.Rushing leads to mistakes.

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