Figurative Language online activity for Grade 6-8 - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one and figure out which type of figurative language is being used. We’ll use the list: Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Personification.

1. My life is an open book.
→ This says “my life” *is* something else (an open book) — not using “like” or “as”. That’s a Metaphor.

2. My brother ran like a gazelle and won the race.
→ Uses “like” to compare running to a gazelle → Simile

3. During the hot summer, the flowers begged for water every day.
→ Flowers can’t actually beg — that’s giving human action to non-human things → Personification

4. The children smiled at the beautiful, big balloons.
→ Look at the words: “beautiful, big balloons” — all start with ‘b’ sound → Alliteration

5. My mother’s smile was 10 miles long.
→ No one’s smile is really 10 miles long — it’s exaggerated for effect → Hyperbole

6. The classroom is as cold as a refrigerator.
→ Uses “as...as” to compare → Simile

7. The car complained as I stepped on the gas pedal.
→ Cars don’t complain — that’s giving human behavior to a machine → Personification

8. My dog barks every time a stranger arrives.
→ “Bark” is the actual sound a dog makes — this is just literal, but wait… “bark” is also an example of Onomatopoeia because it imitates the sound. But note: if the word itself is the sound, it counts. So yes → Onomatopoeia

Wait — let’s double-check: The sentence isn’t saying “the dog went ‘woof woof’”, it just says “barks”. Is “bark” considered onomatopoeic? Yes — because the word sounds like the noise. So we’ll keep it as Onomatopoeia.

9. My mother was a lion when another kid hit me.
→ Saying she *was* a lion — not “like” — so direct comparison → Metaphor

10. My bed called me to take a nap.
→ Beds don’t call — giving human action to object → Personification

11. I could sleep an eternity after exercising for so long.
→ “An eternity” is exaggeration — you can’t literally sleep forever → Hyperbole

12. I went to Seattle to see my sister sing songs.
→ Look at the repeating ‘s’ sounds: “Seattle”, “see”, “sister”, “sing”, “songs” → Alliteration

13. I could hear the cupcake calling my name.
→ Cupcakes don’t talk — giving human action to food → Personification

14. The children were as quiet as mice when they left the house.
→ Uses “as...as” → Simile

15. ‘Ribbit, ribbit,’ croaked the frog all night.
→ “Ribbit” is the sound the frog makes — written out → Onomatopoeia

16. My pillow was like a soft cloud.
→ Uses “like” to compare → Simile

Now let’s list them in order:

1. Metaphor
2. Simile
3. Personification
4. Alliteration
5. Hyperbole
6. Simile
7. Personification
8. Onomatopoeia
9. Metaphor
10. Personification
11. Hyperbole
12. Alliteration
13. Personification
14. Simile
15. Onomatopoeia
16. Simile

Final Answer:
1. Metaphor
2. Simile
3. Personification
4. Alliteration
5. Hyperbole
6. Simile
7. Personification
8. Onomatopoeia
9. Metaphor
10. Personification
11. Hyperbole
12. Alliteration
13. Personification
14. Simile
15. Onomatopoeia
16. Simile