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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 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 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

Circle the right answer.

1."Tell me what happened. I'm all ears." What does this idiom mean?
  • A.I am listening carefully.
  • B.I have a great many ears.
  • C.I cannot hear you.
2."She ran like the wind." What does this simile mean?
  • A.She ran slowly.
  • B.She blew around.
  • C.She ran very fast.
3."The room was as cold as ice." What does this simile mean?
  • A.The room was very cold.
  • B.The room was full of ice.
  • C.The room was warm.
4."Grandpa is a walking dictionary." What does this metaphor mean?
  • A.Grandpa is a book.
  • B.Grandpa walks a long way.
  • C.Grandpa knows the meanings of a great many words.
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."The test was a piece of cake." What does this idiom mean?
  • A.The test was hard.
  • B.The test was very easy.
  • C.The test was about cake.
7."He is feeling under the weather." What does this idiom mean?
  • A.He is very happy.
  • B.He is standing under a cloud.
  • C.He is feeling a little ill.
8."My legs were jelly after the race." What does this metaphor mean?
  • A.My legs felt weak and wobbly.
  • B.My legs were made of jelly.
  • C.My legs felt strong.

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.I am listening carefully.
  2. 2.She ran very fast.
  3. 3.The room was very cold.
  4. 4.Grandpa knows the meanings of a great many words.
  5. 5.The water was so still it reflected everything.
  6. 6.The test was very easy.
  7. 7.He is feeling a little ill.
  8. 8.My legs felt weak and wobbly.

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.