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 have these options:
- Simile → compares two things using “like” or “as”
- Metaphor → says one thing *is* another (no “like” or “as”)
- Hyperbole → extreme exaggeration for effect
- Onomatopoeia → words that sound like what they describe (e.g., buzz, crash)
- Alliteration → repeating the same starting sound in nearby words
- Personification → giving human traits to non-human things

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1. “My life is an open book.”
→ Says life *is* a book — not literally, but metaphorically. No “like” or “as”.
✔ 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 beg — that’s a human action. Giving them human behavior.
✔ Personification

4. “The children smiled at the beautiful, big balloons.”
→ Just describes what happened. No figurative language here. But wait — let’s check: “beautiful, big balloons” — both start with ‘b’? That’s alliteration!
✔ Alliteration

5. “My mother’s smile was 10 miles long.”
→ A smile can’t be 10 miles long — that’s wild exaggeration.
✔ Hyperbole

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

7. “The car complained as I stepped on the gas pedal.”
→ Cars don’t complain — that’s giving it human feelings/actions.
✔ Personification

8. “My dog barks every time a stranger arrives.”
→ This is literal — dogs actually bark. Not figurative. Wait — maybe we missed something? Let’s re-read the list. Hmm… no trick here. Actually, this might be a distractor — but since it’s included, perhaps it’s testing if you know when NOT to pick figurative language? But the instructions say “determine which example... is being used”, implying each has one. Maybe it’s just stating fact — but that doesn’t fit any category. Hold on — perhaps it’s meant to be ignored? No, let’s think again. Actually, “barks” is just normal verb — no figurative language. But since the worksheet includes it, maybe it’s a mistake? Or perhaps we’re overthinking. Let’s skip and come back. Actually — looking ahead, maybe it’s not supposed to have one? But the format implies each blank gets filled. Wait — perhaps it’s none? But that’s not an option. Let me check original image context — oh, user said “solve the problem accurately” — so likely each has one. Maybe “barks” is considered onomatopoeic? Because “bark” sounds like the noise? Yes! “Bark” is often classified as onomatopoeia because it imitates the sound.
✔ Onomatopoeia

9. “My mother was a lion when another kid hit me.”
→ Says she *was* a lion — not literally, but meaning fierce/protective. No “like” or “as”.
✔ Metaphor

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

11. “I could sleep an eternity after exercising for so long.”
→ “Eternity” = forever — exaggerated amount of time.
✔ Hyperbole

12. “I went to Seattle to see my sister sing songs.”
→ “Sing songs” — both words start with ‘s’. Repeating consonant sound.
✔ Alliteration

13. “I could hear the cupcake calling my name.”
→ Cupcakes can’t call — giving human ability to food.
✔ Personification

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

15. “‘Ribbit, ribbit,’ croaked the frog all night.”
→ “Ribbit” is the actual sound frogs make — word that imitates sound.
✔ Onomatopoeia

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

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Now let’s double-check #8: “My dog barks every time a stranger arrives.”
If we consider “barks” as mimicking the sound, then yes — onomatopoeia fits. Some might argue it’s just a regular verb, but in educational contexts, animal sounds are often taught as onomatopoeia. So we’ll stick with that.

Also #4: “beautiful, big balloons” — definitely alliteration (repeating ‘b’).

#12: “sing songs” — repeating ‘s’ sound → alliteration.

Everything else seems solid.

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