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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 7 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."Ana hit the books all weekend before the test." What does the idiom mean?
  • A.Ana punched her books.
  • B.Ana threw her books away.
  • C.Ana studied hard.
2."Dev tried to keep his cool when the projector broke." What does the idiom mean?
  • A.Dev tried to stay cold.
  • B.Dev tried to stay calm.
  • C.Dev got angry.
3."The last five minutes of the game were a roller coaster." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.Nothing exciting happened.
  • B.The game was played at a fair.
  • C.The last minutes were full of ups and downs.
4."Sam has a heart of gold." What does the metaphor mean?
  • A.Sam is very kind.
  • B.Sam is rich.
  • C.Sam's heart is made of metal.
5."The lecture was as dry as dust." What does the simile mean?
  • A.The lecture was very dull.
  • B.The room was dusty.
  • C.The lecture was exciting.
6."We will have to face the music when Dad sees the broken window." What does the idiom mean?
  • A.We will have to listen to a song.
  • B.We will have to play an instrument.
  • C.We will have to accept what happens because of it.
7."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.
8."The wind howled like a wolf all night." What does the simile suggest?
  • A.A wolf was outside.
  • B.The wind was quiet.
  • C.The wind made a long, loud, eerie sound.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 7 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Figurative Language and Idiom

Set 7. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Ana studied hard.
  2. 2.Dev tried to stay calm.
  3. 3.The last minutes were full of ups and downs.
  4. 4.Sam is very kind.
  5. 5.The lecture was very dull.
  6. 6.We will have to accept what happens because of it.
  7. 7.The news spread very quickly.
  8. 8.The wind made a long, loud, eerie sound.

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.