These 5th-grade metaphor worksheets work on "Interpreting figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context,” as per the common core standards in 5th grade. Students will learn what makes a metaphor with metaphor examples and flashcards, practice making their own examples of metaphors, and analyze metaphors in literature with a checkpoint quiz to test their understanding, ending with a worksheet for working on metaphors in music. Join us on a metaphor adventure!
5th Grade Metaphor Worksheets
Expect more than a worksheet with these timesaver resources. Here we've got four paperless 5th-grade metaphor worksheets. There are metaphor writing prompts so your students can write their own examples of metaphors and flashcards for the digital classroom. Are you ready?
Examples of Metaphors Worksheet
In this metaphor worksheet, you have to figure out whether the sentence is an example of a metaphor or a simile.
1. The playground rocked with childish energy.
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2. The fire roared and jumped.
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3. My ears burned red hot like a crackling fire.
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4. The pool called the neighborhood on a hot summer's day.
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5. My mouth is as dry as the desert.
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Metaphor Paperless Flashcards
In these paperless worksheets, students will work on comparing two things. Before you flip the flashcards, see if you can make your own metaphor examples using the words on the front.
Creative Writing Metaphor Worksheet
Now it's your turn! Can you come up with your own metaphor examples to describe the words below?
| School | Sadness |
| Torrential rain | Mayor |
| X-ray | Harvest |
| Atom | Buffaloes |
Analyzing Metaphors in Literature with Quiz
Read the following passage; as you're reading, think about the metaphors you can see and what they might mean. Once you've read through the passage, from the context clues, answer the multiple-choice questions.
1. In the title, what is the metaphor comparing?
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2. What do you think the extended metaphor in this poem means?
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3. What do you think the author's purpose for writing this poem was?
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1. What is Rowena Bastin Bennett comparing?
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2. Why do you think the author does this?
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3. What could “earth trembles when he rushes by” mean?
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Metaphors in Popular Music Worksheet
This worksheet introduces 5th graders to metaphors in popular song lyrics. They can use these metaphor examples to find metaphors and begin interpreting and discussing the meanings behind them.
As you're listening to each song, think about the following questions.
- How is the artist using metaphors?
- What things are being compared?
- What do you think these metaphors mean? What is your interpretation?
- Why do you think artists use metaphors in their song lyrics?
Metaphors in Music
Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're goin' my way
Well, I wanna drive it all night long.
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium.
Well, Ali Baba had them 40 thieves
Scheherazade had a thousand tales
But master, you in luck 'cause up your sleeves
You got a brand of magic never fails
You got some power in your corner now
Some heavy ammunition in your camp
You got some punch, pizzazz, yahoo and how?
See, all you gotta do is rub that lamp, and I'll say
"Mister Aladdin, sir, what will your pleasure be?"
Let me take your order, jot it down
You ain't never had a friend like me, ha-ha-ha
Life is your restaurant and I'm your maitre d'
Come on, whisper what it is you want
You ain't never had a friend like me.
Discussion Questions About Metaphors in Songs
After listening to each song, use these discussion questions in small groups or at home as part of homeschooling. Homeschool and classroom teachers could even set this as a home activity.
- What things are being compared?
- What metaphors are being used?
- What do you think these metaphors mean?
- Why do artists use metaphors?
- What emotions or feelings come up when you listen to the lyrics?
- Where else can you use metaphors?
Metaphor Writing Prompts Worksheet
Your turn! Use these writing prompts to encourage your students to write their own metaphor examples. This activity is an opportunity for students to work on writing metaphors. For more activity ideas to get your students writing, head to Learning Room 213; there's a brilliant metaphor challenge idea that you can adapt for your grade level.
What did you come up with?
What did you come up with?
What did you come up with?
What did you come up with?
What did you come up with?
Want more resources for 5th graders?
Check out our related worksheets and quizzes for 5th graders. We've got reading comprehension worksheets, more figurative language worksheets, and much more!