As a teacher, I had difficulty finding worksheets that provided students with the necessary amount of practice to accurately identify examples of figurative language. So I created my own. My students have been successful with identifying figurative language on standardized tests, and I hope yours will be as well. These activity sheets should help students and learners correctly identify figures of speech in a greater number of instances. Such practice should help improve standardized test performance on a variety of assessments. My figurative language worksheets are available in editable .rtf documents as well as print friendly .pdf files, or preview them in your web browser. Check out the ereadingworksheets! You can post these files to your classroom website or page, assign them for homework or extra credit, and have students print out their results.
Identifying Figurative Language Worksheet #1: students gain practice identifying figurative language from poetry snippets. Also, they explain how they “figured” it out.
Figurative Language Worksheet 1 – RTF File
Figurative Language Worksheet 1 – PDF File
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ereadingworksheet
Identifying Figurative Language Worksheet #2: 10 more examples of figurative language from classic poems. Students should identify and classify the figure of speech as well as explain their answers.
Figurative Language Worksheet 2 – RTF format
Figurative Language Worksheet 2 – PDF format
Preview Figurative Language Worksheet #2 in Your Web Browser
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ereadingworksheet
Figurative Language Worksheet #3 – This file is actually four worksheets. Contains over 20 figures of speech from classic poems and stories and asks students to identifying the examples of figurative language and explain their answers.
Figurative Language Worksheets #3 – RTF format
Figurative Language Worksheets #3 – PDF format
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ereadingworksheet
Lord of the Flies Figurative Language Worksheets: Four page, 26 question worksheet featuring examples of figurative language taken from one of my favorite books, Lord of the Flies. Students determine what figure of speech is used and explain their answers.
Lord of the Flies Figurative Language Worksheet – RTF file
Lord of the Flies Figurative Language Worksheet – PDF file
Preview in Your Web Browser
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ereadingworksheet
Figurative Language of Edgar Allen Poe: Figurative language worksheet featuring line from stories and poems of Edgar Allen Poe. Students write which technique is being used on the line and then explain how they figured out the answer.
Edgar Allen Poe Figurative Language Worksheet RTF
Edgar Allen Poe Figurative Language Worksheet PDF
Preview Edgar Allen Poe Figurative Language Worksheet
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ereadingworksheet
Identifying Figurative Language of the Beatles: A twelve problem activity sheet where students determine which figurative language technique is being used in excerpts of famous song lyrics from the greatest musical band in history,The Beatles.
Identifying Figurative Language of the Beatles RTF
Identifying Figurative Language of the Beatles PDF
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ereadingworksheet
Figurative Language of O. Henry: Twenty-three selected examples of figurative language from O. Henry’s short stories. This double-sided worksheet will give students plenty of practice.
Figurative Language of O. Henry RTF
Figurative Language of O. Henry PDF
Preview Figurative Language of O. Henry
Format Guide: Which file should you click?
RTF: these files are compatible with most word processing programs (word, works, etc.) I’ve included these so that you may edit the content of the worksheets as you please.
PDF: these files print exactly as the author intends and do not have conversion issues. Opens with Adobe reader but does not allow for easy editing.
Preview: use the “preview” link to view the file directly from your web browser. This way you can examine the worksheet without downloading it to your computer.
ereadingworksheet: these are interactive online versions of the worksheets. You can embed these to your class website or page and assign these as extra credit or for homework. Students enter there names and print their results. Very cool.
Looking For More Reading Worksheets?
Figurative Language Activities
Poetic Devices Worksheet
All Reading Worksheets
sherrell coleman
/ January 10, 2011Where are the correct answers?
Mr. Morton
/ February 27, 2011All of the answers have been added.
mandy cullen
/ January 15, 2011answers?
Connie Herrea
/ January 26, 2011Would you please email me the correct answers
Mr. Morton
/ January 26, 2011I apologize for any inconvenience.
I’ll post the answers as soon as I can.
Barbie
/ February 14, 2011My goodness. Who cares about the answers? I can figure those out. These are awesome worksheets. Throwing my students for a curve!!! Thanks!
Mr. Morton
/ February 14, 2011Thanks for taking the time to comment, Barbie. I appreciate it. For those concerned about the answers, about half of them have been posted.
Mrs. Lienhard
/ February 15, 2011Wow! Thank you very much for all your work. These worksheet are great!
Mr. Morton
/ February 16, 2011My pleasure, Mrs. Lienhard. Thank you for visiting.
kat julian
/ February 16, 2011I too enjoyed using these. I added a few parts but this was such a wonderful framework to begin my Fig. lang lessons! Thank you for all the work.
Mr. Morton
/ February 27, 2011I’m glad to help!
John
/ February 27, 2011These are perfect for my figurative language warmups. Thank you!
Mr. Morton
/ March 1, 2011My pleasure, John. Thanks for visiting.
Carol Clark
/ February 28, 2011Thank for doing this worksheets. It really helps my students review before state testing. It is hard to find such great examples as these.
T. Hollingsworth
/ March 4, 2011Thanks, at 8:30 a.m. finding this was exactly what I need for my 7th graders extra practice tomorrow.
Mr. Morton
/ March 5, 2011I’m pleased to hear it.
Ronke Ogunleye
/ March 4, 2011Thanks so much!
Lisa
/ March 7, 2011I love your activity sheets. Thanks do much for sharing.
Michilene
/ March 9, 2011I used your activities to prepare for our state exam. It was wonderful and helped the student tremendously. Thank you so much.
Mr. Morton
/ March 9, 2011So pleased to hear it. Please visit again.
Sharon
/ March 17, 2011Thank you I especially liked that the students have to answer-How do you figure? This helped to reinforce the meanings of the figurtive language words.
Mr. Morton
/ March 17, 2011Thanks, Sharon. And thank you for stopping by the site.
Lori
/ March 23, 2011Thank you for some higher level worksheets that cover figurative language. These are very helpful! My kids were so excited about the worksheet with some music lyrics, they actually tried to find from where the lines that they couldn’t place came!
Kristin
/ March 28, 2011I love the sources and this is exactly what my students needed. Thanks so much!
Littweeter1
/ September 2, 2011Thanks a lot for sharing all these! I certainly hope this will help my ESL students appreciate the English Language more.
Mr. Morton
/ September 13, 2011I share your hopes.
kadia
/ September 7, 2011Thank you for some higher level worksheets that cover figurative language. These are very helpful.
Alberta Ross Dunbar
/ September 20, 2011These activities are on fire. I love them. Thank you! I am beginning a unit of figurative language, and this fits everything that I will need. Once again thank you so much. Hope I will be able to share with you sometime in the furture!
Mr. Morton
/ September 20, 2011Oh dang! On fire? That’s great figurative language right there. Thanks for visiting.
Jay Gowen
/ October 5, 2011Wow! These are the best worksheets I’ve ever seen. (NOT hyperbole) Practice is the only way for kids to learn these concepts, which unfortunately often comes across as mindless (personification) and rote. Yet these feel so authentic. Thanks for spending the time putting together such a great resource and for sharing with all of us.
Mr. Morton
/ October 5, 2011Thank you kindly, Mr. Gowen.
I value your use of figurative language in the comment.
Okechukwu
/ October 8, 2011Wow what a site, I love it, I love it, and I love it
Patricia Taylor
/ October 19, 2011These are awesome worksheets and I love the .rtf form. It allows me to input material in that we have discussed and they are currently familiar with….
Thank you so much for all the effort you have invested in this work.
Mr. Morton
/ October 19, 2011That’s exactly what I was hoping for. Thanks for visiting and sharing your strategy.
Maria
/ October 31, 2011“touch of pride” I am thinking this may not be personification (as the example states). Maybe more of an idiom- as it is meaning a little bit of pride. Perhaps if it was “touched by pride” or “a touch from pride” it would be personification. Thoughts?
Thanks for the worksheets. They are so helpful!!
Mr. Morton
/ November 21, 2011I suppose it depends on how you interpret it.
Personally, I feel that the study of figurative language is not an exact science, as understanding may vary based on interpretation. And once you get into the realm of idioms, forget about it…. Most idioms are in fact other examples of figurative language: similes, metaphors, etc. Anyway, you raise an interesting point. One with which I do not necessarily disagree. Thanks for visiting!
Ms. Griffin
/ November 6, 2011Thank you for the engaging worksheets. I will share these with the beginning teachers at my school.
Mr. Morton
/ November 7, 2011It’s my pleasure. Thanks for visiting!
Kate
/ November 28, 2011Thank you for sharing these! These handouts are wonderful.
Mrs. Hession
/ November 29, 2011Wanted to say that these practice worksheets are excellent and I am already seeing some improvement in skills through practice with them and re-teaching with your powerpoints. Thanks for your hard work!
Mr. Morton
/ December 1, 2011Thanks for visiting!
Pam
/ December 8, 2011Thank you!! These are just what I was searching for…get so tired of making my own sometimes! Thanks for sharing.
Mr. Morton
/ December 14, 2011I know. It’s exhausting…
guest
/ January 9, 2012Thanks! I always appreciate freebies.
Lisa Garcia
/ January 22, 2012Thank you for making your hard work available for the benefit of others. They have been a huge help to me. You should be very proud of your efforts.
Richard
/ January 23, 2012Thank you so much. I am a humanities teacher who has had yr 7 English dumped on me. The worksheets are so time saving for me.
Mr. Morton
/ January 31, 2012I’m sorry to hear it… and happy to help. You’ll love English once you get in it a bit; I’m sure of it.
molly
/ January 29, 2012These are wonderful. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you giving these away! You’re generosity and kindness has save so many teachers hours and hours.
Cheers to you.
Many many thanks!
Blake
/ February 14, 2012Love the worksheets! These will be a big help in my GED Prep class!
Mr. Morton
/ February 23, 2012I’m glad to hear it. Best wishes!
Mrs. Babsellers
/ February 20, 2012My goodness Mr. Morton, your creativity and higher level-thinking skills blow me away! What a gem you are to have created and shared these worksheets and powerpoints. I often need something for my gifted learners that encourages explanation and challenges them, and thanks to you, I’ve found it! Many thanks.
Mr. Morton
/ February 23, 2012I’m so happy to hear it.
elaine
/ February 23, 2012Amazing. Just what I need. I’ve been using the song lyrics of Bruno Mars, Pink Floyd and Katy Perry for teaching examples of figurative language but your examples are way more thought provoking and will be a great challenge. Thanks so much
Mr. Morton
/ March 3, 2012Song lyrics are a great way to review figurative language/poetic devices, and kids love them. Thanks for this clever suggestion.
Elaine
/ February 24, 2012Thank you. This website has saved me much time and energy. I love that there is a “how do you know” box for each figurative language example. “Where is your proof?” or “What is your text evidence?” is my favorite saying.
Renae
/ February 27, 2012I think it’s awesome when someone as yourself takes the time to create something so helpful and then willingly shares it with other colleges! You are exactly the type of person I would love to team with. Thank you!
Mr. Morton
/ March 3, 2012Consider us teammates, Renae.
Kathryn
/ March 2, 2012Wonderful. Most FL worksheets I find are overly simplistic and don’t contain the kind of figurative language that kids are ACTUALLY going to encounter in their reading/lives. These are top-notch. Thank you!
Saudat Banke Balogun
/ March 9, 2012Thank you so much! This is really cool and I’m loving it.
Shannon Doll
/ March 13, 2012THANK YOU!
These are fantastic!
These are exactly what I needed today!
Ms. Rowerdink
/ March 15, 2012I need an answer key
Alexis
/ March 18, 2012Wonderful content!! Thanks for making such a cool thing free. Told the whole team at school first thing Monday!
Mr. Morton
/ March 20, 2012Thanks for spreading the word.
Annette
/ March 26, 2012Thanks for wonderful worksheets. I don’t know where you get the time. One request is the answer key for the Lord of The Flies, figuritive language work sheet.
Mr. Morton
/ March 31, 2012It’s there. On the link that says “view answers.”
Sue
/ March 31, 2012I was happy to find the great list of Idioms until I went to use them in class. One student asked me about the one that said the Sam and Paul… were going to tie the knot. A heads up would have helped.
Mr. Morton
/ March 31, 2012In my understanding, tying the knot refers to getting married. I believe that this is a completely acceptable practice and requires no “heads up” (another great idiom). Why would one need a “heads up” in regards to this completely socially acceptable practice?
Sue
/ March 31, 2012Did it really have to be two male names? Yes Sam can be a girls name but I don’t want to have to explain anything in 5th grade.
Greg
/ April 1, 2012Thanks, you saved me from so much extra work.
Jaclyn
/ April 20, 2012This is the most AMAZING website I have every stumbled upon in my 12 years of teaching! I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am for these resources! Outstanding work. THANK YOU!
Mr. Morton
/ May 3, 2012That’s very kind of you to say. Thanks for visiting!
susan
/ April 20, 2012thank you so much.
Sherrey B.
/ April 30, 2012these are absolutely wonderful! I’ve had so much trouble finding appropriate figurative language worksheets, so thank you for sharing these!
A. Akins
/ May 2, 2012This has been an invaluable tool for me as I introduce and extend the learning of literary devices, author’s purpose, point-of-view, etc. to my 9th grade students with exceptional learning needs. I’m able to chunk practice opportunites in a way I would not have the time to prepare for on my own.
Thank you,
Andrea Akins
Mr. Morton
/ May 3, 2012Thank you for taking the time to comment.