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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 21 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."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.
2."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.
3."A stitch in time saves nine." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Nine stitches are always needed.
  • B.Sewing is faster than shopping.
  • C.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
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."Haste makes waste." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Hurrying saves time.
  • B.Waste should be thrown away quickly.
  • C.Rushing leads to mistakes.
6."Rome wasn't built in a day." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Rome is a very old city.
  • B.Big things take time to achieve.
  • C.Building work is slow.
7."The pen is mightier than the sword." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Pens are sharper than swords.
  • B.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  • C.Writing is a kind of fighting.
8."Actions speak louder than words." What does this saying mean?
  • A.You should shout when you talk.
  • B.What you do shows more than what you say.
  • C.Doing things is noisy.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 21 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 21. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Think carefully before you act.
  2. 2.Telling the truth is the wisest choice.
  3. 3.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
  4. 4.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  5. 5.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  6. 6.Big things take time to achieve.
  7. 7.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  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.