Students identify hyperboles in sentences on this educational worksheet.
Worksheet titled "Hyperboles" with 15 sentences for students to identify and circle hyperboles, featuring a clean layout with numbered items and space for name and date.
JPG
826×1169
163.5 KB
Free · Personal Use
Quality Assured by Worksheets Library Team
Reviewed for educational accuracy and age-appropriateness
ID: #556686
⭐
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Hyperbole - ESL worksheet by JONAC
▼
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Hyperbole - ESL worksheet by JONAC
Let's solve this worksheet step by step.
A hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It is not meant to be taken literally. For example, saying "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" is a hyperbole because no one can actually eat a whole horse — it’s an exaggeration to show how extremely hungry someone is.
---
Now, let’s go through each sentence and identify the hyperbole in each one:
1. That ice cream cone was a mile high!
✔ *Hyperbole*: Saying an ice cream cone is "a mile high" is clearly exaggerated — it’s not literally a mile tall.
→ Circle: "a mile high!"
2. Shawn was so hungry he could eat a horse.
✔ *Hyperbole*: No person can eat a whole horse. This exaggerates his hunger.
→ Circle: "he could eat a horse."
3. I have to do homework all the time.
✘ *Not a hyperbole*: This is a general statement about frequent homework. While possibly exaggerated, it's more of a complaint than a dramatic exaggeration. It lacks the strong figurative exaggeration typical of hyperboles.
→ No hyperbole here. (But if forced to pick, some might argue "all the time" is slightly exaggerated — but it's not strong enough.)
4. Joe’s eyelids were as heavy as bricks.
✔ *Hyperbole*: Eyes don't literally weigh as much as bricks — this exaggerates how tired Joe is.
→ Circle: "as heavy as bricks."
5. I would just die if I had to sing in front of people.
✔ *Hyperbole*: No one literally dies from singing in public — it expresses extreme fear or anxiety.
→ Circle: "I would just die."
6. There were too many to count.
✘ *Not a hyperbole*: This is a literal statement — it means the number was large enough that counting wasn’t possible. Not exaggerated in a figurative way.
→ No hyperbole.
7. I will be 100 years old before I know how to work this thing.
✔ *Hyperbole*: It’s an exaggeration to say it will take until age 100 to learn something — it emphasizes difficulty or frustration.
→ Circle: "I will be 100 years old before..."
8. I will die if I can’t have some candy.
✔ *Hyperbole*: Again, dying from not getting candy is not literal — it shows intense desire.
→ Circle: "I will die if I can’t have some candy."
9. My little brother has been driving me crazy all day!
✔ *Hyperbole*: "Driving me crazy" is a common hyperbolic expression meaning very annoying, not literally making someone insane.
→ Circle: "driving me crazy"
10. Charlie would argue with a brick wall.
✔ *Hyperbole*: A brick wall doesn’t argue — this exaggerates Charlie’s stubbornness or tendency to argue.
→ Circle: "argue with a brick wall"
11. When I grow up, I’m going to make tons of money.
✔ *Hyperbole*: "Tons of money" is an exaggeration — not literally tons (which would be thousands of pounds).
→ Circle: "tons of money"
12. Carly was sweating bullets waiting to see her grade on the test.
✔ *Hyperbole*: "Sweating bullets" is an idiom meaning sweating profusely due to stress — not literally sweating bullets.
→ Circle: "sweating bullets"
13. My grandpa is as old as dirt.
✔ *Hyperbole*: Dirt isn’t literally old — this exaggerates how old the grandpa is.
→ Circle: "as old as dirt"
14. The walls were paper thin.
✘ *Not a hyperbole*: This is a simile comparing thickness, but it’s not an exaggeration — it describes something very thin. However, it’s often used figuratively. But technically, it's not a hyperbole, it's a simile.
→ No hyperbole here.
15. I will die if he sees that picture!
✔ *Hyperbole*: Similar to #5 and #8 — this is an exaggeration to express fear or embarrassment.
→ Circle: "I will die if he sees that picture!"
---
1. a mile high!
2. he could eat a horse
3. *(no hyperbole)*
4. as heavy as bricks
5. I would just die
6. *(no hyperbole)*
7. I will be 100 years old before...
8. I will die if I can’t have some candy
9. driving me crazy
10. argue with a brick wall
11. tons of money
12. sweating bullets
13. as old as dirt
14. *(no hyperbole — simile)*
15. I will die if he sees that picture!
---
- Hyperboles: Sentences 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15
- Not hyperboles: 3, 6, 14
> Note: Some sentences may be interpreted differently depending on context, but based on standard definitions, these are the correct identifications.
✔ Answer Key (what to circle):
1. a mile high!
2. he could eat a horse
4. as heavy as bricks
5. I would just die
7. I will be 100 years old before...
8. I will die if I can’t have some candy
9. driving me crazy
10. argue with a brick wall
11. tons of money
12. sweating bullets
13. as old as dirt
15. I will die if he sees that picture!
What is a Hyperbole?
A hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It is not meant to be taken literally. For example, saying "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" is a hyperbole because no one can actually eat a whole horse — it’s an exaggeration to show how extremely hungry someone is.
---
Now, let’s go through each sentence and identify the hyperbole in each one:
1. That ice cream cone was a mile high!
✔ *Hyperbole*: Saying an ice cream cone is "a mile high" is clearly exaggerated — it’s not literally a mile tall.
→ Circle: "a mile high!"
2. Shawn was so hungry he could eat a horse.
✔ *Hyperbole*: No person can eat a whole horse. This exaggerates his hunger.
→ Circle: "he could eat a horse."
3. I have to do homework all the time.
✘ *Not a hyperbole*: This is a general statement about frequent homework. While possibly exaggerated, it's more of a complaint than a dramatic exaggeration. It lacks the strong figurative exaggeration typical of hyperboles.
→ No hyperbole here. (But if forced to pick, some might argue "all the time" is slightly exaggerated — but it's not strong enough.)
4. Joe’s eyelids were as heavy as bricks.
✔ *Hyperbole*: Eyes don't literally weigh as much as bricks — this exaggerates how tired Joe is.
→ Circle: "as heavy as bricks."
5. I would just die if I had to sing in front of people.
✔ *Hyperbole*: No one literally dies from singing in public — it expresses extreme fear or anxiety.
→ Circle: "I would just die."
6. There were too many to count.
✘ *Not a hyperbole*: This is a literal statement — it means the number was large enough that counting wasn’t possible. Not exaggerated in a figurative way.
→ No hyperbole.
7. I will be 100 years old before I know how to work this thing.
✔ *Hyperbole*: It’s an exaggeration to say it will take until age 100 to learn something — it emphasizes difficulty or frustration.
→ Circle: "I will be 100 years old before..."
8. I will die if I can’t have some candy.
✔ *Hyperbole*: Again, dying from not getting candy is not literal — it shows intense desire.
→ Circle: "I will die if I can’t have some candy."
9. My little brother has been driving me crazy all day!
✔ *Hyperbole*: "Driving me crazy" is a common hyperbolic expression meaning very annoying, not literally making someone insane.
→ Circle: "driving me crazy"
10. Charlie would argue with a brick wall.
✔ *Hyperbole*: A brick wall doesn’t argue — this exaggerates Charlie’s stubbornness or tendency to argue.
→ Circle: "argue with a brick wall"
11. When I grow up, I’m going to make tons of money.
✔ *Hyperbole*: "Tons of money" is an exaggeration — not literally tons (which would be thousands of pounds).
→ Circle: "tons of money"
12. Carly was sweating bullets waiting to see her grade on the test.
✔ *Hyperbole*: "Sweating bullets" is an idiom meaning sweating profusely due to stress — not literally sweating bullets.
→ Circle: "sweating bullets"
13. My grandpa is as old as dirt.
✔ *Hyperbole*: Dirt isn’t literally old — this exaggerates how old the grandpa is.
→ Circle: "as old as dirt"
14. The walls were paper thin.
✘ *Not a hyperbole*: This is a simile comparing thickness, but it’s not an exaggeration — it describes something very thin. However, it’s often used figuratively. But technically, it's not a hyperbole, it's a simile.
→ No hyperbole here.
15. I will die if he sees that picture!
✔ *Hyperbole*: Similar to #5 and #8 — this is an exaggeration to express fear or embarrassment.
→ Circle: "I will die if he sees that picture!"
---
✔ Final Answer: Circle the following phrases (the hyperboles):
1. a mile high!
2. he could eat a horse
3. *(no hyperbole)*
4. as heavy as bricks
5. I would just die
6. *(no hyperbole)*
7. I will be 100 years old before...
8. I will die if I can’t have some candy
9. driving me crazy
10. argue with a brick wall
11. tons of money
12. sweating bullets
13. as old as dirt
14. *(no hyperbole — simile)*
15. I will die if he sees that picture!
---
Summary:
- Hyperboles: Sentences 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15
- Not hyperboles: 3, 6, 14
> Note: Some sentences may be interpreted differently depending on context, but based on standard definitions, these are the correct identifications.
✔ Answer Key (what to circle):
1. a mile high!
2. he could eat a horse
4. as heavy as bricks
5. I would just die
7. I will be 100 years old before...
8. I will die if I can’t have some candy
9. driving me crazy
10. argue with a brick wall
11. tons of money
12. sweating bullets
13. as old as dirt
15. I will die if he sees that picture!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of hyperbole worksheet for 5th grade.
