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 pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 2 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

Next setLesson plan

One paper per pupil

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425

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

Similes, Metaphors and Idioms

L.4.5

NameDate

Tick the right answer.

1."She let the cat out of the bag." What does this really mean?
  • A.She gave away a secret.
  • B.She released a cat from a bag.
2."Do not judge a book by its cover." What does this really mean?
  • A.Books should be read before rating.
  • B.Do not decide what something is worth from its appearance.
3."Hold your horses." What does this really mean?
  • A.Grip some horses.
  • B.Wait and slow down.
4."Every cloud has a silver lining." What does this really mean?
  • A.Something good can be found in a bad situation.
  • B.Clouds are edged with silver.
5."It is raining cats and dogs." What does this really mean?
  • A.It is raining very hard.
  • B.Animals are falling from the sky.
6."Practice makes perfect." What does this really mean?
  • A.Practising creates perfection.
  • B.Doing something repeatedly makes you good at it.
7."It costs an arm and a leg." What does this really mean?
  • A.It is very expensive.
  • B.The price is body parts.
8."He was on cloud nine." What does this really mean?
  • A.He was extremely happy.
  • B.He was standing on a cloud.

LessonPrint · L.4.5 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Similes, Metaphors and Idioms

Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.She gave away a secret.
  2. 2.Do not decide what something is worth from its appearance.
  3. 3.Wait and slow down.
  4. 4.Something good can be found in a bad situation.
  5. 5.It is raining very hard.
  6. 6.Doing something repeatedly makes you good at it.
  7. 7.It is very expensive.
  8. 8.He was extremely happy.

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.