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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 23 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."Don't count your chickens before they hatch." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Chickens are hard to count.
  • B.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
  • C.Count eggs carefully.
2."Haste makes waste." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Waste should be thrown away quickly.
  • B.Hurrying saves time.
  • C.Rushing leads to mistakes.
3."Better late than never." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Never be early.
  • B.Being late is always fine.
  • C.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
4."Honesty is the best policy." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Honest people make the rules.
  • B.Telling the truth is the wisest choice.
  • C.Rules should be written down.
5."Rome wasn't built in a day." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Building work is slow.
  • B.Big things take time to achieve.
  • C.Rome is a very old city.
6."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.
7."Many hands make light work." What does this saying mean?
  • A.A job is easier when lots of people help.
  • B.Hands are not heavy.
  • C.Work is best done alone.
8."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.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 23 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 23. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
  2. 2.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  3. 3.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  4. 4.Telling the truth is the wisest choice.
  5. 5.Big things take time to achieve.
  6. 6.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  7. 7.A job is easier when lots of people help.
  8. 8.Working with someone else helps solve problems.

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