Figurative language worksheet for identifying literary devices in sentences.

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

We have these options:
- Simile (uses “like” or “as” to compare)
- Metaphor (says something IS something else, without “like” or “as”)
- Hyperbole (big exaggeration)
- Onomatopoeia (words that sound like what they mean — 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.
→ Saying life *is* a book → not literally true → 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 really “beg” — that’s human behavior → Personification

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

5. My mother’s smile was 10 miles long.
→ No one’s smile is actually 10 miles — this is exaggerated → 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 them human feelings → Personification

8. My dog barks every time a stranger arrives.
→ This is literal — dogs do bark. But wait — is there any figurative language? Actually, no. But looking again — maybe we missed something? Wait — “barks” is just normal speech. Hmm… but let’s check if “bark” could be onomatopoeia? Yes! “Bark” sounds like the noise a dog makes → Onomatopoeia

9. My mother was a lion when another kid hit me.
→ She wasn’t literally a lion — she acted fierce → Metaphor

10. My bed called me to take a nap.
→ Beds can’t call — that’s personifying the bed → Personification

11. I could sleep an eternity after exercising for so long.
→ “An eternity” is not real — it’s exaggerating how long you could sleep → Hyperbole

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

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

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

15. ‘Ribbit, ribbit,” croaked the frog all night.
→ “Ribbit” imitates the sound a frog makes → Onomatopoeia

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

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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