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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 6 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."Better late than never." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Being late is always fine.
  • B.Never be early.
  • C.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
2."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.
3."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.
4."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.
5."Necessity is the mother of invention." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Inventors are always mothers.
  • B.People invent things when they really need them.
  • C.Inventions are not needed.
6."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.
7."A stitch in time saves nine." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Sewing is faster than shopping.
  • B.Nine stitches are always needed.
  • C.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
8."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.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 6 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 6. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  2. 2.What you do shows more than what you say.
  3. 3.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  4. 4.Telling the truth is the wisest choice.
  5. 5.People invent things when they really need them.
  6. 6.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
  7. 7.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
  8. 8.Think carefully before you act.

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