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

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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."We will have to face the music when Dad sees the broken window." What does the idiom mean?
  • A.We will have to accept what happens because of it.
  • B.We will have to listen to a song.
  • C.We will have to play an instrument.
2."When Mia saw her score, she was over the moon." What does the idiom mean?
  • A.Mia was disappointed.
  • B.Mia jumped very high.
  • C.Mia was delighted.
3."The last five minutes of the game were a roller coaster." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.The game was played at a fair.
  • B.The last minutes were full of ups and downs.
  • C.Nothing exciting happened.
4."The news spread like wildfire through the school." What does the simile mean?
  • A.Nobody heard the news.
  • B.The school was on fire.
  • C.The news spread very quickly.
5."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.
6."After the long hike, Leo's backpack was an anchor dragging him down." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.The backpack felt very heavy.
  • B.The backpack was empty.
  • C.Leo was on a boat.
7."The fog was a thick blanket over the town." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.The fog covered the whole town.
  • B.The fog was thin and patchy.
  • C.Somebody put a blanket on the town.
8."On market day the town was a beehive." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.The town was empty.
  • B.Bees lived in the town.
  • C.The town was busy and full of people.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 6 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Figurative Language and Idiom

Set 6. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.We will have to accept what happens because of it.
  2. 2.Mia was delighted.
  3. 3.The last minutes were full of ups and downs.
  4. 4.The news spread very quickly.
  5. 5.Dev tried to stay calm.
  6. 6.The backpack felt very heavy.
  7. 7.The fog covered the whole town.
  8. 8.The town was busy and full of people.

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.