Skip to content
LessonPrint

Figurative Language and Idiom is a free printable Grade 5 English worksheet on interpreting similes, metaphors and idioms in context, aligned to Common Core standard L.5.5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 11 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

Next setLesson plan

One paper per student

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425

Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Figurative Language and Idiom

L.5.5

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1."When Mia saw her score, she was over the moon." What does the idiom mean?
  • A.Mia jumped very high.
  • B.Mia was disappointed.
  • C.Mia was delighted.
2."Sam has a heart of gold." What does the metaphor mean?
  • A.Sam's heart is made of metal.
  • B.Sam is rich.
  • C.Sam is very kind.
3."Her words cut like a knife." What does the simile mean?
  • A.She was holding a knife.
  • B.Her words were kind.
  • C.Her words were hurtful.
4."Ana hit the books all weekend before the test." What does the idiom mean?
  • A.Ana studied hard.
  • B.Ana threw her books away.
  • C.Ana punched her books.
5."On market day the town was a beehive." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.The town was busy and full of people.
  • B.Bees lived in the town.
  • C.The town was empty.
6."Dev tried to keep his cool when the projector broke." What does the idiom mean?
  • A.Dev got angry.
  • B.Dev tried to stay calm.
  • C.Dev tried to stay cold.
7."The last five minutes of the game were a roller coaster." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.The last minutes were full of ups and downs.
  • B.Nothing exciting happened.
  • C.The game was played at a fair.
8."After the long hike, Leo's backpack was an anchor dragging him down." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.The backpack was empty.
  • B.The backpack felt very heavy.
  • C.Leo was on a boat.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 11 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Figurative Language and Idiom

Set 11. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Mia was delighted.
  2. 2.Sam is very kind.
  3. 3.Her words were hurtful.
  4. 4.Ana studied hard.
  5. 5.The town was busy and full of people.
  6. 6.Dev tried to stay calm.
  7. 7.The last minutes were full of ups and downs.
  8. 8.The backpack felt very heavy.

More practice for L.5.5

Interpret figurative language, idioms, proverbs and shades of meaning.

Teaching this next? Idioms, Adages, Proverbs and Nuance is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.5.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.