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

Let’s go through each sentence one by one and match it to the correct type of figurative language.

We are choosing from:
- Simile (uses “like” or “as” to compare)
- Metaphor (direct comparison without “like” or “as”)
- Hyperbole (extreme exaggeration)
- Onomatopoeia (words that sound like what they describe)
- Alliteration (repetition of beginning sounds in nearby words)
- Personification (giving human traits to non-human things)

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1. My life is an open book.
→ This says life *is* something else — direct comparison, 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.
✔ Personification

4. The children smiled at the beautiful, big balloons.
→ “Beautiful, big balloons” — both start with ‘b’. That’s alliteration.
✔ Alliteration

5. My mother’s smile was 10 miles long.
→ No smile is actually 10 miles long — this is exaggerated.
✔ 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 — giving human trait to object.
✔ Personification

8. My dog barks every time a stranger arrives.
→ “Bark” is the actual sound a dog makes — not figurative? Wait — but we’re looking for figurative language. Actually, “bark” here is literal. But wait — maybe it’s just stating fact? Hmm. Let’s check again. The instruction says “determine which example of figurative language is being used.” If there’s none, maybe it’s tricking us? But let’s look: “barks” is not figurative — it’s literal. But perhaps the question expects us to pick the closest? Wait — no, actually, re-read: “My dog barks...” — that’s not figurative. But maybe it’s testing if we know when something is NOT figurative? But the directions say “choose from” those types — implying each has one. Maybe I made a mistake. Let’s hold off and come back.

Wait — actually, let’s think: Is “bark” onomatopoeic? Yes! “Bark” imitates the sound a dog makes. So even though it’s also the real word, it’s still considered onomatopoeia because it mimics the sound.
✔ Onomatopoeia

9. My mother was a lion when another kid hit me.
→ Says she *was* a lion — direct comparison, no “like” or “as”.
✔ Metaphor

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

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

12. I went to Seattle to see my sister sing songs.
→ “Seattle”, “sister”, “sing”, “songs” — all start with ‘s’. That’s alliteration.
✔ Alliteration

13. I could hear the cupcake calling my name.
→ Cupcakes can’t call — human trait given 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 sound a frog makes — written to mimic the 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 list them in order:

1. My life is an open book. → Metaphor
2. My brother ran like a gazelle... → Simile
3. ...flowers begged... → Personification
4. ...beautiful, big balloons → Alliteration
5. ...smile was 10 miles long → Hyperbole
6. ...as cold as a refrigerator → Simile
7. The car complained... → Personification
8. My dog barks... → Onomatopoeia
9. My mother was a lion... → Metaphor
10. My bed called me... → Personification
11. ...sleep an eternity... → Hyperbole
12. ...Seattle...sister sing songs → Alliteration
13. ...cupcake calling my name → Personification
14. ...as quiet as mice → Simile
15. “Ribbit, ribbit,”... → Onomatopoeia
16. ...like a soft cloud → Simile

Double-check #8: “barks” — yes, it’s onomatopoeia because it represents the sound. Even though it’s also the verb, in figurative language exercises, animal sounds are often classified under onomatopoeia.

Also #12: “Seattle to see my sister sing songs” — S-S-S-S — definitely alliteration.

Everything checks out.

Final Answer:
Metaphor
Simile
Personification
Alliteration
Hyperbole
Simile
Personification
Onomatopoeia
Metaphor
Personification
Hyperbole
Alliteration
Personification
Simile
Onomatopoeia
Simile