Figurative Language Worksheets for 5th Grade

This page offers unlimited figurative language worksheets for 5th grade students—ideal for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents who want to build strong reading and writing skills. These worksheets are interactive, printable, and designed to help students recognize and use different types of figurative languages across various text types.

Each worksheet can be completed online, printed for individual or class use, and comes with answer keys to support independent learning or grading. Whether you're teaching a poetry unit, preparing for standardized tests, or reviewing figurative language as part of reading comprehension, these figurative language 5th grade worksheets give you the tools you need—ready to use and aligned with grade-level standards.

Figurative Language Worksheet

Figurative Language Practice!
Read each sentence and identify the type of figurative language used. Then explain what it means in your own words.

What Is Figurative Language?

Figurative language refers to words and expressions that go beyond their literal meaning to create more vivid or imaginative descriptions. Instead of saying something directly, figurative language allows authors to suggest meanings, add emotion, or create comparisons that enhance the reader’s experience.

Common types of figurative language include:

Simile – compares two things using like or as
Example: She was as fast as lightning.
Metaphor – a direct comparison without like or as
Example: Time is a thief.
Personification – giving human traits to non-human things
Example: The wind whispered through the trees.
Hyperbole – exaggerated statements for emphasis
Example: I’ve told you a million times.
Onomatopoeia – words that imitate sounds
Example: Bang, buzz, splash
Alliteration – repetition of the same beginning sound
Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

These elements appear frequently in literature, poetry, advertising, and everyday speech. Understanding them helps students become more thoughtful readers and creative writers.

Why Figurative Language Matters in 5th Grade

In 5th grade, students are expected to move beyond basic reading comprehension and start analyzing how authors use language to express ideas and emotions. Figurative language plays a key role in this development.

Here’s why practicing with figurative language worksheets 5th grade is important:

Builds reading comprehension: Recognizing non-literal language helps students understand deeper meanings.
Supports writing development: Students learn to write more expressively and creatively.
Improves literary analysis skills: Figurative language is a central feature in poems, stories, and speeches.
Enhances vocabulary: Exposure to idioms and figurative phrases broadens language use.
Prepares for testing: Many reading assessments include figurative language questions.

Students who understand figurative language are better equipped to interpret what they read and express what they mean.

What’s Included in These Worksheets for Figurative Language

Each worksheet in this collection is designed to target one or more types of figurative languages. Whether you're looking for a focused simile practice or a mixed review covering multiple types, you’ll find materials that are clear, structured, and engaging.

Included in these worksheets for figurative language:

Identification exercises (highlighting similes, metaphors, etc.)
Multiple choice and short answer questions
Sentence creation using specific figurative language types
Reading passages with comprehension questions
Sort and match activities
Short writing prompts to apply figurative language in original writing
Answer keys for all worksheets

All figurative language 5th grade worksheets are printable or can be assigned digitally. Activities are suitable for whole class instruction, small groups, or independent learning.

Tips for Teaching Figurative Language

Introducing figurative language in 5th grade can be both fun and challenging. Here are a few tips to help students succeed with these worksheets and the concept in general:

Use examples from familiar texts
Pull sentences from books students are already reading to show figurative language in context.
Visualize it
Ask students to draw the image created by a metaphor or personification. It helps solidify understanding.
Compare literal vs. figurative meaning
Let students rewrite figurative phrases in literal terms and vice versa.
Create figurative language journals
Encourage students to collect and label examples they find in reading or everyday life.
Focus on one type at a time
Introduce each type of figurative language slowly and build in review before combining them.
Practice regularly
Use 5th grade figurative language worksheets consistently to reinforce recognition and application.

With time and repeated practice, students move from simply identifying figurative language to using it confidently in their own writing.

Learning Objectives for Students

After working through these figurative language worksheets 5th grade, students should be able to:

Identify different types of figurative language in text
Understand how figurative language affects meaning and tone
Distinguish between literal and figurative meanings
Use figurative expressions in their own writing
Analyze how authors use figurative language to convey mood or theme
Explain the meaning of idioms, metaphors, and similes in context

These outcomes help students meet grade-level standards and build the foundation for middle school literary analysis.

Who These Worksheets Are For

These figurative language worksheets are ideal for:

Teachers: Use them in reading and writing units, poetry lessons, test prep, or review.
Parents: Provide extra grammar and reading comprehension practice at home.
Tutors: Reinforce concepts one-on-one in a structured way.
Homeschoolers: Include in your ELA curriculum to strengthen creative expression.

No prep needed—just download, print, or assign the worksheets online.