The contribution of multiple scattering in lidar backscattering from clouds has been investigated using a ruby laser at 694 nm. The depolarization of an incident linearly polarized signal is measured with a multichannel lidar receiver. An analysis is presented whereby this information can be utilized to measure the multiple scattering in clouds in which single scattering retains the incident linear polarization. Experimental data are presented for cumulus clouds and for ground level fog, and the results are compared with some recent theoretical computations.