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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 7 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.Waste should be thrown away quickly.
  • B.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  • C.Hurrying saves time.
2."Many hands make light work." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Work is best done alone.
  • B.Hands are not heavy.
  • C.A job is easier when lots of people help.
3."Look before you leap." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Leaping is dangerous.
  • B.Think carefully before you act.
  • C.Always check the ground before jumping.
4."The pen is mightier than the sword." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  • B.Pens are sharper than swords.
  • C.Writing is a kind of fighting.
5."Where there's a will, there's a way." What does this saying mean?
  • A.You need a map to find the way.
  • B.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  • C.Every road leads somewhere.
6."Two heads are better than one." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Working with someone else helps solve problems.
  • B.One person always knows best.
  • C.Some animals have two heads.
7."Necessity is the mother of invention." What does this saying mean?
  • A.People invent things when they really need them.
  • B.Inventions are not needed.
  • C.Inventors are always mothers.
8."All that glitters is not gold." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Shiny things are always gold.
  • B.Something that looks good may not be worth much.
  • C.Gold does not shine.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 7 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 7. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  2. 2.A job is easier when lots of people help.
  3. 3.Think carefully before you act.
  4. 4.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  5. 5.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  6. 6.Working with someone else helps solve problems.
  7. 7.People invent things when they really need them.
  8. 8.Something that looks good may not be worth much.

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