Reading Candy

Figurative Language
Worksheet Packet
Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole,
Personification, Onomatopoeia,
Alliteration, Allusion, Idiom, Oxymoron
Worksheets: One for
each type of figurative
language, plus extras
CCSS:
L.4.5, L.5.5,
L.6.5, L.7.5,

Similes: Analyze & Complete

 Simile - a comparison of two unlike things using the words
like or as Rachel’s hands felt as cold as ice.
Directions: Read each simile and indicate what is being compared on

the lines.
1. The sparkling water of the lake __________________ to
glistened like sequins.
2. Beth has brown eyes and hair as __________________
dark as the midnight sky.
3. The students charged up the stairs __________________ to
like a herd of elephants.
4. The beach’s white sand felt as hot __________________
as a skillet.
5. The lion’s roar was as loud and __________________ to
frightening as thunder.
6. Andrew’s room smelled like the __________________
inside of an old lunch box.
7. The newborn rabbit’s fur was as __________________ to
white as snow.
8. As soon as they arrived at the park, __________________
the children scattered like ants.
__________________ to __________________ to

__________________ __________________

__________________ to __________________ to

__________________ __________________

Directions: Complete each common simile with a word from the box. ghost

molasses leather whistle silk

9. Dad keeps his toolbox as clean as a _______________.

10. While watching the scary movie, Ken’s face was as white as a
_______________. 11. The little girl's hair is as smooth as
 _______________.

12. Mom’s pork roast was as tough as _______________.

13. The school day passed as slowly as _______________.

Metaphors: Analyze & Explain

Metaphor - a comparison of two unlike things by saying that one
thing is a dissimilar object or thing
The classroom was an ice box!
Directions: Tell what is meant by each metaphor.

1. After the marathon, Callie’s legs were jello.

____________________________________________________________
__________________________

2. Tim does have his own car, but it’s a dinosaur.

____________________________________________________________
__________________________
3. The linebacker was a bulldozer driving up the field.
____________________________________________________________
__________________________
4. My older brother was a chicken when it was time to ride the roller coaster.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________
5. After the downpour, our front yard was a river!
____________________________________________________________
__________________________
6. Three more years of high school is a prison sentence!
____________________________________________________________
__________________________
7. Her newborn daughter’s cries were music to the young mother’s ears.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________
8. As her anger grew, Kelly knew she was a ticking time bomb.
____________________________________________________________
__________________________
9. The air conditioner broke and the house quickly became an oven.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________

Similes & Metaphors: Sort & Convert (Page 1 of 2)

Directions:
1. Read each sentence and decide if it is a simile or a metaphor.
2. Write the sentence in the correct column in the chart.
3. If it is a simile, change it to a metaphor and write the new sentence
opposite the original in the chart. If it is a metaphor, change it to a simile. The
first one is done for you.
1. The new boy’s eyes were as green as the finest of
emeralds.
2. Henry stomped through the door like an elephant.

3. On the first night home from summer camp, my

pillow was a soft cloud.
4. As soon as the bell for recess rang, the students
scattered like ants.
5. Dad is a monster in the morning before he drinks his
coffee.
6. The lake was a mirror on the calm, clear Saturday.
Simile - a comparison of two unlike

things using the words like or as

Metaphor - a comparison of two unlike things by saying that one is a

dissimilar object or thing

Similes & Metaphors: Sort & Convert (Page 2 of 2)

Similes Metaphors
The new boy’s eyes were The new boy’s eyes were
as green as the finest of the finest emeralds.
emeralds.
 Hyperbole: Analyze & Complete

Hyperbole is an exaggeration that cannot possibly be true. When

we went ice fishing, it was a million degrees below
zero!

Directions: Read each statement. On the line, write yes if the

statement is a hyperbole and no if the statement is not a hyperbole.
Remember, a hyperbole cannot possibly be true.
________ 1. In science class this morning, I was dying of boredom.
________ 2. Dad won like a thousand dollars at the casino last night.
________ 3. When Mom was pregnant for my little brother, she was bigger
than a whale. ________ 4. Mrs. Baker’s new white tennis shoes were
brighter than the sun. ________ 5. With her new shoes, she is faster than
the speed of light.
________ 6. Molly couldn’t go to the party because she had a ton of
homework to do. ________ 7. That last day of school stretches on for
hours.
________ 8. I am not going outside in that 100 degree weather!
________ 9. Mark has a brain the size of a peanut.
________ 10. I’m so hungry, I could eat 2 steaks right now!

Directions: Finish each statement to make a hyperbole.

11. Dad snores so loud! He

______________________________________________________________.

12. After a week of summer camp, I was so tired

__________________________________________.
 13. His car is so old,

________________________________________________________________

______.

14. Bob is taller than

________________________________________________________________

_____.

15. The meatloaf in the school cafeteria is

________________________________________________.

Idioms: Analyze & Write (1 of 2)

Idiom is a group of words whose collective meaning is quite
different from their literal meanings
Mark had a chip on his shoulder when his team lost.

Directions: Each sentence contains an underlined idiom. Read what

each idiom means, then write your own original sentence that
contains the idiom.

1. Sheila was over the moon when she saw her report card.
meaning: very happy, overjoyed
Sentence:
_______________________________________________________________
____________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________ 2. Andy says he’s going to Disney World, but I
think he’s just pulling my leg. meaning: joking, making something up
Sentence:
_______________________________________________________________
____________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________ 3. Oh no! I accidentally spilled the beans about
Paul’s surprise party. meaning: to reveal a secret or surprise
Sentence:
_______________________________________________________________
____________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________ 4. Mom told me that I could have a raise in my
allowance when pigs fly. meaning: impossible; will never happen
Sentence:
____________________________________________________________
_______________
____________________________________________________________
__________________________

Idioms: Analyze & Write (2 of 2)

Idiom - a group of words whose collective meaning is quite
different from their literal meanings
Mark had a chip on his shoulder when his team lost.

5. Jason missed the football game because he was under the

weather. meaning: sick, not feeling well
Sentence:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_________________________________
6. Mrs. Brinkman’s science test was a piece of cake.
meaning: very easy
Sentence:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
__________________________________

7. Isabelle had a field day at the half off sale at the mall on Saturday.

meaning: an enjoyable day or circumstance

Sentence:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_________________________________
8. After listening to what the car salesman had to say, Michael smelled a
rat.
meaning: suspect someone is lying, detect a betrayal
Sentence:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
__________________________________
9. If John can’t keep his nose clean, he’ll end up in military boarding
school.
meaning: stay out of trouble
Sentence:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
 __________________________

Personification: Analyze & Identify

personification giving human qualities to nonhuman

things My soft bed invited me to take a
nap.
Directions: Read each sentence and indicate what object is being
personified. Then, identify the human quality being used.

Sentence Personified Object Human Quality 1. I put on my tired, old blue

jeans. blue jeans tired 2. The soft breeze tickled my cheeks.

3. The full moon smiled down on the campers.

4. The last cupcake begged me to eat it.

5. The spring flowers danced in the wind.

6. Time crawled by as we waited for vacation.

7. The wilted tulip begged for water.

8. The engine coughed before it died completely.

9. At night, the forest keeps many secrets.

10. The hammer pounded angrily on the nail.

11. The apple tree waited patiently to be picked.

12. The grass loves the season of summer!

13. The tiny snowflakes kissed me as they fell.

14. The sun winked at us as it set in the sky.

 15. The frantic drum echoed its beat.

reading candy: a figurative language unit

©2013 erin cobb

Alliteration: Analyze & Complete

alliteration the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a

series of words
Franny found a fancy flower in the forest.
Directions: Finish each sentence using alliteration. Remember to use
the same initial consonant sound, not letters.

1. Daddy doesn’t like donuts or

________________________________________________________.

2. Hopefully, Hailey’s home has

_______________________________________________________.

3. Kayla’s kitten can

________________________________________________________________

4. While Wesley walked wearily,

________________________________________________________.

5. Betsy’s bright buttons were

__________________________________________________________.

6. Lots of lazy lizards

________________________________________________________________

___.

7. Polly painted pretty pictures

_________________________________________________________.

8. Mark makes many

________________________________________________________________

___.

9. Gary got green

________________________________________________________________

______.

10. The jeep jumped over the

___________________________________________________________.

11. The ripe, red raspberries

_____________________________________________________________.

12. Ten tiny turtles

________________________________________________________________

______.

13. Vanessa’s violin

________________________________________________________________

_____.

14. Nancy never knew

 ________________________________________________________________

___.

Onomatopoeia: Analyze & Identify

Onomatopoeia the use of words whose sounds suggest their
meaning The plates clattered and clashed as the
table was
cleared.
Directions: Find an example of onomatopoeia in each sentence and
write it on the line.
1. The tree fell to the forest floor with a loud thump.
________________________ 2. The audience clapped as the curtains closed.
________________________ 3. The children played and splashed in the pond.
________________________ 4. The campfire popped and cackled.
________________________ 5. I love the sound of bacon sizzling in the pan.
________________________ 6. As the balloon popped, the boy let out a wail.
________________________

Directions: Choose a word from the box to identify each sound and
write it on the line.

rustle sputter crunch chop vroom murmur plink

7. fallen leaves are being stepped on

________________________ 8. eating potato chips
________________________ 9. coins dropping into a vending
machine ________________________ 10. a vacuum cleaner
________________________ 11. lots of people talking softly
________________________ 12. someone cutting up vegetables
________________________ 13. a car engine sounds terrible
________________________

Allusion: Analyze & Identify

allusion a reference to a person, place, or event from

history, literature, sports, movies, or the arts
They hit it off like Romeo and Juliet.

Directions: Underline the allusion in each sentence. Then, tell where it

came from and what it means.

1. Dad has turned into a Scrooge this Christmas season.

what it alludes to:
_______________________________________________________
_ what it means:
_______________________________________________________
_____

2. Shelly is still waiting for her Prince Charming to come along.

what it alludes to:
_______________________________________________________
_ what it means:
_______________________________________________________
_____
3. Mr. Miller was laughing like the Wicked Witch of the West.
what it alludes to:
_______________________________________________________
_ what it means:
_______________________________________________________
 _____
4. Everyone cheered for us like we were the Dream Team!
what it alludes to:
_______________________________________________________
_ what it means:
_______________________________________________________
_____
5. I’m proud to live in the land of the free!
what it alludes to:
_______________________________________________________
_ what it means:
_______________________________________________________
_____
6. I was happy to put my John Hancock on the petition.
what it alludes to:
____________________________________________________
____ what it means:
____________________________________________________
________

Oxymoron: Analyze & Complete

oxymoron - phrase whose words contradict each other with
opposite meanings
The mangy dog really was pretty ugly.

Directions: Identify the second half of each oxymoron. Use the words in
the box to help you.
 maybe funny odds silence naturally copy order gas secret tart
together confused glasses difference reality normal favorite
missing choice shrimp
____________________

1. least

____________________ 8. weirdly

____________________

2. original

____________________ 9. clearly

____________________

3. random

____________________ 10. found

____________________

4. deafening

____________________ 11. definite

____________________

5. act

____________________ 12. liquid

____________________

6. virtual

____________________ 13. only

____________________

7. alone
 same ____________________

14. seriously 18. sweet

____________________ ____________________ 19.

jumbo

15. even ____________________ 20.

____________________ 16. known

plastic ____________________

____________________ 17.
 Similes: A

nalyze & Complete

simile a comparison of two unlike things using the words like

or as Rachel’s hands felt as cold as ice.
Directions: Read each simile and indicate what is being compared on

the lines.
1. The sparkling water of the lake water to sequins
glistened like sequins.
2. Beth has brown eyes and hair as hair to midnight sky
dark as the midnight sky.
3. The students charged up the students to a herd of elephants
stairs like a herd of elephants.
4. The beach’s white sand felt as hot sand to a skillet
as a skillet.
5. The lion’s roar was as loud and roar to thunder
frightening as thunder.
6. Andrew’s room smelled like the room to inside of lunch box fur to
inside of an old lunch box.
7. The newborn rabbit’s fur was as snow
white as snow.
8. As soon as they arrived at the children to ants
park, the children scattered like ants.
Directions: Complete each common simile with a word from the

box. ghost molasses leather whistle silk

9. Dad keeps his toolbox as clean as a whistle.

10. While watching the scary movie, Ken’s face was as white
as a ghost. 11. The little girl's hair is as smooth as silk.

12. Mom’s pork roast was as tough as leather.

13. The school day passed as slowly as molasses.

reading candy: a figurative language unit

©2013 erin cobb

Metaphors:
Analyze & Explain

metaphor a
comparison of two
unlike things by
saying that one
thing is a
dissimilar object
or thing
The classroom was an
ice box!
Directions: Tell what is
meant by each
metaphor.

1. After the marathon,

Callie’s legs were jello.
 Callie’s muscles were tired and it was hard for her to stand up
after running 2. Tim does have his own car, but it’s a dinosaur.
Tim’s car is really old
3. The linebacker was a bulldozer driving up the field.
The linebacker was strong and moved up the field clearing a path
4. My older brother was a chicken when it was time to ride the roller
coaster. My older brother was too scared to ride the roller
coaster
5. After the downpour, our front yard was a river!
Our front yard was flooded with water
6. Three more years of high school is a prison sentence!
The speaker hates high school and is dreading the next
three years 7. Her newborn daughter’s cries were music to the
young mother’s ears. The mother loved hearing her baby cry; it
was a beautiful sound to her 8. As her anger grew, Kelly knew she
was a ticking time bomb.
Kelly felt she was about to explode with anger
9. The air conditioner broke and the house quickly became an
oven. The house was very hot and the air wasn’t
flowing

reading candy: a figurative language unit

©2013 erin cobb

Similes & Metaphors: Sort & Convert KEY
 Similes Metaphors
The new boy’s eyes were The new boy’s eyes were
as green as the finest of the finest emeralds.
emeralds.

Henry stomped through Henry was an elephant

the door like an stomping through the door.
elephant.

On the first night home On the first night home

from summer camp, my from summer camp, my
pillow felt as soft as a pillow was a soft cloud.
cloud.
As soon as the bell for The students were ants
recess rang, the students scattering as soon as the
scattered like ants. bell for recess rang.
Dad is as scary as a Dad is a monster in the
monster in the morning morning before he drinks
before he drinks his his coffee.
coffee.
The lake was as clear The lake was a mirror on
as a mirror on the the calm, clear Saturday.
calm, clear Saturday.

reading candy: a figurative language unit

©2013 erin cobb

Hyperbole: Analyze & Complete
 hyperbole an exaggeration that cannot possibly be true When we
went ice fishing, it was a million degrees below zero!

Directions: Read each statement. On the line, write yes if the

statement is a hyperbole and no if the statement is not a hyperbole.
Remember, a hyperbole cannot possibly be true.
yes 1. In science class this morning, I was dying of boredom.
no 2. Dad won like a thousand dollars at the casino last night.
yes 3. When Mom was pregnant for my little brother, she was bigger
than a whale. yes 4. Mrs. Baker’s new white tennis shoes were brighter
than the sun.
yes 5. With her new shoes, she is faster than the speed of light.
yes 6. Molly couldn’t go to the party because she had a ton of
homework to do. no 7. That last day of school stretches on for hours.
no 8. I am not going outside in that 100 degree weather!
yes 9. Mark has a brain the size of a peanut.
no 10. I’m so hungry, I could eat 2 steaks right now!

Directions: Finish each statement to make a hyperbole.

11. Dad snores so loud! He is louder than a freight train.

12. After a week of summer camp, I was so tired I slept for days.

13. His car is so old, it’s older than a Model T.

14. Bob is taller than the Empire State Building.

15. The meatloaf in the school cafeteria is as tough as nails.

reading candy: a figurative language unit

©2013 erin cobb

 Personification:
Analyze &
Identify

personification giving human qualities to nonhuman

things My soft bed invited me to take a
 nap.
Directions: Read each sentence and indicate what object is being
personified. Then, identify the human quality being used.

Sentence Personified Object Human Quality 1. I put on my tired, old blue

jeans. blue jeans tired 2. The soft breeze tickled my cheeks. breeze tickled 3.

The full moon smiled down on the campers. moon smiled 4. The last cupcake

begged me to eat it. cupcake begged me 5. The spring flowers danced in the

wind. flowers danced 6. Time crawled by as we waited for vacation. time

crawled by 7. The wilted tulip begged for water. tulip begged 8. The engine

coughed before it died completely. engine coughed 9. At night, the forest keeps
keep secrets
many secrets. forest 10. The hammer pounded angrily on the nail.

hammer angrily

11. The apple tree waited patiently to be picked. apple tree waited patiently

12. The grass loves the season of summer! grass loves 13. The tiny

snowflakes kissed me as they fell. snowflakes kissed 14. The sun winked

at us as it set in the sky. sun winked 15. The frantic drum echoed its beat.

drum frantic
reading candy: a figurative language unit

©2013 erin cobb

Onomatopoeia:
Analyze &
Identify

onomatopoeia
 the use of words whose sounds suggest their
meaning The plates clattered and clashed as the
table was
cleared.
Directions: Find an example of onomatopoeia in each sentence and
write it on the line.
1. The tree fell to the forest floor with a loud thump. thump 2. The
audience clapped as the curtains closed. clapped 3. The children played
and splashed in the pond. splashed 4. The campfire popped and
cackled. popped, cackled 5. I love the sound of bacon sizzling in the
pan. sizzling 6. As the balloon popped, the boy let out a wail. popped,
wail

Directions: Choose a word from the box to identify each sound and
write it on the line.

rustle sputter crunch chop vroom murmur plink

7. fallen leaves are being stepped on rustle

8. eating potato chips crunch
9. coins dropping into a vending machine plink
10. a vacuum cleaner vroom
11. lots of people talking softly murmur
12. someone cutting up vegetables chop
13. a car engine sounds terrible sputter

reading candy: a figurative language unit

©2013 erin cobb

 Allusion: Analyze &
Identify

allusion a
reference to
a person,
place, or
event from
history,
literature,
sports,
movies, or
the arts
They hit it off like Romeo
and Juliet.

Directions:
Underline the
allusion in each
sentence. Then, tell
where it came from
and what it means.

1. Dad has turned into a

Scrooge this Christmas
season.
what it alludes to: book or
movie A Christmas Carol
what it means: unhappy,
greedy, grumpy person
2. Shelly is still waiting for
her Prince Charming to
come along.
what it alludes to: Cinderella
what it means: her perfect, dream man
 3. Mr. Miller was laughing like the Wicked Witch of the West.
what it alludes to: book or movie The Wizard of Oz
what it means: high, cackling, annoying laugh
4. Everyone cheered for us like we were the Dream Team!
what it alludes to: the 1992 United States Men’s Basketball Team
what it means: everyone loved and admired us
5. I’m proud to live in the land of the free!
what it alludes to: “The Star Spangled Banner”
what it means: The United States of America
6. I was happy to put my John Hancock on the petition.
what it alludes to: his large, stylish signature on the Declaration of
Independence what it means: signature

reading candy: a figurative language unit

©2013 erin cobb

Oxymoron: Analyze & Complete

oxymoron a phrase whose words contradict each other with

opposite meanings
The mangy dog really was pretty ugly.

Directions: Identify the second half of each oxymoron. Use the words in
the box to help you.

maybe funny odds silence naturally copy order gas secret tart
together confused glasses difference reality normal favorite
missing choice shrimp
1. least favorite 10. found missing

2. original copy 11. definite

3. random order maybe 12. liquid

4. deafening silence gas

5. act naturally 6. 13. only choice

virtual reality 7. 14. seriously

alone together 8. funny 15. even

weirdly normal 9. odds

clearly confused 16. plastic glasses

 17. same shrimp 20.

difference 18. known secret

sweet tart

19. jumbo

reading candy: a figurative language unit

©2013 erin cobb

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