Reading Poetry Closely is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on putting a line of poetry into plain words, aligned to Common Core standard RL.4.10. It prints 2 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 13 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
Reading Poetry Closely
RL.4.10
NameDate
Write the letter of the match next to each one.
1.Match each line of poetry to what it means.
The old house groaned and settled into night.
The wind went whistling through the keyhole like a thief.
The stars were scattered salt across the dark.
The kettle sang its morning song.
A.The wind crept sharply into the house.
B.The kettle whistled as it boiled.
C.Many small stars were spread over the sky.
D.The house creaked as it grew dark.
2.Match each line of poetry to what it means.
Thunder grumbled, an old man in the hills.
Time crawled like a snail through the math lesson.
The city never sleeps; its windows blink all night.
Her words were knives that cut me to the bone.
A.Lights stay on in the city all through the night.
B.The lesson seemed to go very slowly.
C.What she said hurt my feelings badly.
D.Thunder rumbled low and far away.
LessonPrint · RL.4.10 · Set 13 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Reading Poetry Closely
Set 13. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. The old house groaned and settled into night. — D (The house creaked as it grew dark.) 2. The wind went whistling through the keyhole like a thief. — A (The wind crept sharply into the house.) 3. The stars were scattered salt across the dark. — C (Many small stars were spread over the sky.) 4. The kettle sang its morning song. — B (The kettle whistled as it boiled.)
2.1. Thunder grumbled, an old man in the hills. — D (Thunder rumbled low and far away.) 2. Time crawled like a snail through the math lesson. — B (The lesson seemed to go very slowly.) 3. The city never sleeps; its windows blink all night. — A (Lights stay on in the city all through the night.) 4. Her words were knives that cut me to the bone. — C (What she said hurt my feelings badly.)
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.4.10 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.