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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 4 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."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.
2."Haste makes waste." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Hurrying saves time.
  • B.Waste should be thrown away quickly.
  • C.Rushing leads to mistakes.
3."All that glitters is not gold." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Gold does not shine.
  • B.Something that looks good may not be worth much.
  • C.Shiny things are always gold.
4."Actions speak louder than words." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Doing things is noisy.
  • B.What you do shows more than what you say.
  • C.You should shout when you talk.
5."Look before you leap." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Leaping is dangerous.
  • B.Always check the ground before jumping.
  • C.Think carefully before you act.
6."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.
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."A stitch in time saves nine." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
  • B.Sewing is faster than shopping.
  • C.Nine stitches are always needed.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 4 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 4. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.A job is easier when lots of people help.
  2. 2.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  3. 3.Something that looks good may not be worth much.
  4. 4.What you do shows more than what you say.
  5. 5.Think carefully before you act.
  6. 6.Working with someone else helps solve problems.
  7. 7.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  8. 8.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.

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