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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 8 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."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.
2."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.
3."Actions speak louder than words." What does this saying mean?
  • A.You should shout when you talk.
  • B.What you do shows more than what you say.
  • C.Doing things is noisy.
4."The pen is mightier than the sword." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Writing is a kind of fighting.
  • B.Words can change things more than fighting can.
  • C.Pens are sharper than swords.
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.Every road leads somewhere.
  • C.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
6."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.
7."Haste makes waste." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Waste should be thrown away quickly.
  • B.Hurrying saves time.
  • C.Rushing leads to mistakes.
8."Don't put all your eggs in one basket." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Carry eggs carefully.
  • B.Baskets break easily.
  • C.Do not risk everything on one plan.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 8 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 8. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Something that looks good may not be worth much.
  2. 2.Big things take time to achieve.
  3. 3.What you do shows more than what you say.
  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.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  7. 7.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  8. 8.Do not risk everything on one plan.

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