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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 7 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.

Similes, Metaphors and Idioms

L.4.5

NameDate

Tick the right answer.

1."Break a leg!" What does this really mean?
  • A.Good luck.
  • B.Injure your leg.
2."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.
3."Practice makes perfect." What does this really mean?
  • A.Doing something repeatedly makes you good at it.
  • B.Practising creates perfection.
4."He was on cloud nine." What does this really mean?
  • A.He was standing on a cloud.
  • B.He was extremely happy.
5."Hold your horses." What does this really mean?
  • A.Wait and slow down.
  • B.Grip some horses.
6."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.
7."She let the cat out of the bag." What does this really mean?
  • A.She released a cat from a bag.
  • B.She gave away a secret.
8."It is raining cats and dogs." What does this really mean?
  • A.Animals are falling from the sky.
  • B.It is raining very hard.

LessonPrint · L.4.5 · Set 7 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Similes, Metaphors and Idioms

Set 7. Prints on its own sheet.

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

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.

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