What Is Figurative Language?

Figurative language is a word or phrase that does NOT have a literal meaning. It is used by an author for the sake of comparison or dramatic effect. Many students, especially non-native English speakers, struggle to understand figurative language because of its nonliteral meanings.

This figurative language board game has been designed to give your students practice with identifying and interpreting figurative language in context.

How to Play Go Figure!

Students will move around the game board answering questions about different types of figurative language. The types of figurative language used in this game include:

• Personification
• Hyperbole
• Simile
• Metaphor
• Idiom
• Onomatopoeia
• Alliteration
• Proverb
• Synecdoche
• Oxymoron
• Allusion
• Pun

Haven’t covered all of these figurative language concepts? Simply remove the game cards associated with the figurative language types that your students haven’t learned just yet. It won’t change the outcome of the game at all! The download includes:

• Game board
• Game pieces
• Game cards
• Backing for the game cards (simply print the game cards double-sided using this template)
• Instruction sheet
• Answer key

Looking for a way to play this game as a whole class? Why not lose the game board and use the cards as a scoot activity? Hang the cards around the room and have your students rotate through the cards, writing their answers on a recording sheet!

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown menu next to the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource.

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access.

This resource was created by Madison Schmalz-Barrett, a teacher in California and a Teach Starter Collaborator.