Study Guide: Figurative Language
ANSWER KEY
Directions: Underline the metaphor or simile in each paragraph then explain what it means.
1. Every morning at my house, we eat breakfast at the crack of dawn. My mom likes to cook big breakfasts.
The scrambled eggs are a mountain on the platter. The pancakes are fluffy and sweet. I soak them in
strawberry syrup. With book like this, who wouldn’t want to get up early?
Did you find a simile or metaphor? ___metaphor___________
What does the simile or metaphor mean?
There were a lot of scrambled eggs on my plate (Your answer should be similar).
2. Kaylee was happy when her family adopted a kitten. She promised that she would give the kitten food and
water every day. Dad told Kaylee that there was one thing she needed to do before anything else. She needed
to name the kitten! Kaylee petted the kitten. Its fur was soft as cotton. “I’ll name him Cottenball,” Kaylee said.
Did you find a simile or metaphor? ___simile_________
What does the simile or metaphor mean?
The fur was soft.
3. In the art class, Devon’s teacher said that they would make valentines for their friends. Devon looked at the
paper heart lying on his desk. What could he write on a valentine? Finally he grabbed a pen and wrote, “Roses
are red. Violets are blue. You are my sunshine, and I like you!”
Did you find a simile or metaphor? _______metaphor______________
What does the simile or metaphor mean?
You make me happy/You are important to me.
Onomatopoeias: Directions: Write an onomatopoeia for each item.
Dog: __Woof___
Truck:__VROOM VROOM!_________
Baby:_Wahhh! _______
Use an onomatopoeia in a sentence, you pick the onomatopoeia:
____The black cat growled loudly at the dog. ____________ (growled is the onomatopoeia)
Find the onomatopoeia in a sentence and underline it:
1. The kids giggled at the clown.
2. The dog growled at the cat and ran away.
3. CRASH! The clown fell onto the trampoline.
Directions: Choose the correct meaning.
1. If you want to be a singer, you should give it a shot. What does “you should give it a shot” mean?
A. You need to go to the doctor
B. You need to go on a singing television show
C. You should try it
2. It’s late; let’s call it a day. What does “let’s call it a day” mean?
A. You are going on a date
B. It’s time to go home and end the day
C. You’re creating a new day of the week
3. I saw Olive at the store, and she gave me the cold shoulder when I tried to talk to her.
What does “she gave me the cold shoulder” mean?
A. She needed a coat
B. She was cold
C. She ignored her and didn’t talk
Directions: Finish the alliterations; add new 5 words to each. Examples are below.
She saw seals slapping salmon and salt._________________________________________________________
Jack juggled jiggly jello jars and jumped over jumping jack rabbits.___________________________________
Ms. Mueller mumbled at mini mice and made more mayonnaise. ________________________________