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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 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.

Similes, Metaphors and Idioms

L.4.5

NameDate

Tick the right answer.

1."He was on cloud nine." What does this really mean?
  • A.He was extremely happy.
  • B.He was standing on a cloud.
2."Break a leg!" What does this really mean?
  • A.Good luck.
  • B.Injure your leg.
3."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.
4."Hold your horses." What does this really mean?
  • A.Wait and slow down.
  • B.Grip some horses.
5."The early bird catches the worm." What does this really mean?
  • A.Those who act first do best.
  • B.Birds that wake early find food.
6."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.
7."Practice makes perfect." What does this really mean?
  • A.Practising creates perfection.
  • B.Doing something repeatedly makes you good at it.
8."It is raining cats and dogs." What does this really mean?
  • A.It is raining very hard.
  • B.Animals are falling from the sky.

LessonPrint · L.4.5 · Set 9 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Similes, Metaphors and Idioms

Set 9. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.He was extremely happy.
  2. 2.Good luck.
  3. 3.She gave away a secret.
  4. 4.Wait and slow down.
  5. 5.Those who act first do best.
  6. 6.Something good can be found in a bad situation.
  7. 7.Doing something repeatedly makes you good at it.
  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.