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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 9 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.Hurrying saves time.
  • C.Rushing leads to mistakes.
2."Don't count your chickens before they hatch." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
  • B.Chickens are hard to count.
  • C.Count eggs carefully.
3."Better late than never." What does this saying mean?
  • A.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  • B.Never be early.
  • C.Being late is always fine.
4."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.
5."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.
6."A stitch in time saves nine." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Nine stitches are always needed.
  • B.Sewing is faster than shopping.
  • C.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
7."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.
8."Don't put all your eggs in one basket." What does this saying mean?
  • A.Baskets break easily.
  • B.Carry eggs carefully.
  • C.Do not risk everything on one plan.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 9 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Adages and Proverbs

Set 9. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Rushing leads to mistakes.
  2. 2.Do not rely on something good before it has happened.
  3. 3.It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  4. 4.If you really want something, you can find a way to do it.
  5. 5.Big things take time to achieve.
  6. 6.Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger job later.
  7. 7.Something that looks good may not be worth much.
  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.