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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 20 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."Two heads are better than one." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Some animals have two heads.
  • B.One person always knows best.
  • C.Working with someone else helps solve problems.
2."Don't count your chickens before they hatch." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Count eggs carefully.
  • B.Chickens are hard to count.
  • C.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
3."Many hands make light work." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Hands are not heavy.
  • B.A job is easier when lots of people help.
  • C.Work is best done alone.
4."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.
5."Actions speak louder than words." What does this saying mean?
  • A.You should shout when you talk.
  • B.Doing things is noisy.
  • C.What you do shows more than what you say.
6."Better late than never." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Never be early.
  • B.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  • C.Being late is always fine.
7."The pen is mightier than the sword." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Pens are sharper than swords.
  • B.Writing is a kind of fighting.
  • C.Words can change things more than fighting can.
8."Honesty is the best policy." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Rules should be written down.
  • B.Honest people make the rules.
  • C.Telling the truth is the wisest choice.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 20 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 20. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Working with someone else helps solve problems.
  2. 2.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
  3. 3.A job is easier when lots of people help.
  4. 4.Something that looks good may not be worth much.
  5. 5.What you do shows more than what you say.
  6. 6.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  7. 7.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  8. 8.Telling the truth is the wisest choice.

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