Skip to content
LessonPrint

Similes, Metaphors and Idioms is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on explaining what a figure of speech actually means, aligned to Common Core standard L.4.5. 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 19 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

Next setLesson plan

One paper per student

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425

Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Similes, Metaphors and Idioms

L.4.5

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1."Tell me what happened. I'm all ears." What does this idiom mean?
  • A.I have a great many ears.
  • B.I cannot hear you.
  • C.I am listening carefully.
2."Grandpa is a walking dictionary." What does this metaphor mean?
  • A.Grandpa is a book.
  • B.Grandpa knows the meanings of a great many words.
  • C.Grandpa walks a long way.
3."The puppy was as playful as a kitten." What does this simile mean?
  • A.The puppy was a kitten.
  • B.The puppy loved to play.
  • C.The puppy was tired.
4."We are all in the same boat." What does this idiom mean?
  • A.We are all in the same difficult situation.
  • B.We are going fishing.
  • C.We are sitting in one boat.
5."The lake was a mirror." What does this metaphor mean?
  • A.Somebody put a mirror in the lake.
  • B.The water was so still it reflected everything.
  • C.The lake was made of glass.
6."She ran like the wind." What does this simile mean?
  • A.She blew around.
  • B.She ran very fast.
  • C.She ran slowly.
7."The stars were diamonds in the night sky." What does this metaphor mean?
  • A.The stars were for sale.
  • B.The stars sparkled brightly.
  • C.Diamonds were floating in the sky.
8."The room was as cold as ice." What does this simile mean?
  • A.The room was full of ice.
  • B.The room was very cold.
  • C.The room was warm.

LessonPrint · L.4.5 · Set 19 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Similes, Metaphors and Idioms

Set 19. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.I am listening carefully.
  2. 2.Grandpa knows the meanings of a great many words.
  3. 3.The puppy loved to play.
  4. 4.We are all in the same difficult situation.
  5. 5.The water was so still it reflected everything.
  6. 6.She ran very fast.
  7. 7.The stars sparkled brightly.
  8. 8.The room was very cold.

More practice for L.4.5

Explain similes, metaphors, idioms, proverbs, antonyms and synonyms.

Teaching this next? Similes, Metaphors, Idioms and Proverbs is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 4 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.4.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.