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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 24 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."Haste makes waste." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Hurrying saves time.
  • B.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  • C.Waste should be thrown away quickly.
2."The pen is mightier than the sword." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Writing is a kind of fighting.
  • B.Pens are sharper than swords.
  • C.Words can change things more than fighting can.
3."Where there's a will, there's a way." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Every road leads somewhere.
  • B.You need a map to find the way.
  • C.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
4."A stitch in time saves nine." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Nine stitches are always needed.
  • B.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
  • C.Sewing is faster than shopping.
5."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.
6."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.
7."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.
8."Rome wasn't built in a day." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Rome is a very old city.
  • B.Building work is slow.
  • C.Big things take time to achieve.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 24 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 24. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  2. 2.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  3. 3.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  4. 4.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
  5. 5.Think carefully before you act.
  6. 6.What you do shows more than what you say.
  7. 7.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
  8. 8.Big things take time to achieve.

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