Literal and Nonliteral Meanings of Word and Phrases Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.3.5.A

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

A literal meaning is when a word is the exact textbook definition. Nonliteral meanings are when words have an exaggerated definition, you will find this often used with figurative language. Authors will often use nonliteral language to help reader better understand what they are talking about. This helps readers get a better mental picture of what they are walking into. It also makes the piece that appears in much more interesting. Some readers may miss the way this is presented, so it is normally overly exaggerated to make certain that they catch the direction the author was going with it. These worksheets will help students understand the meaning the author is trying to portray of certain words.

Literal and Nonliteral Meanings Worksheets:

Leggy Sayings - Find the matching meanings across this sheet. An idiom is a phrase that means something different than the sum of the words that comprise it. Read each idiom and find its meaning. Write its letter on the line.

The Fishing Trip - Where is the figurative language in this reading passage? Write each instance that you find on a line below, along with a brief description of its literal meaning.

Using Similes to Spice up Your Sentences - This is slightly more advanced. If you don't know the word, context clues can help you.

Light Bulb In My Head - You identify if the literal meaning is meant to be portrayed by the sentence.

Bucket Filler - Read each sentence below. Is the underlined phrase meant to be understood literally or figuratively? If the phrase is meant to be understood figuratively, write the number of the sentence and the phrase on a line inside the bucket.

A Walk in the Garden - Read the story. Then fill out the chart to show what is being personified and what human trait or quality it has been given.

Literal | Non-literal Meanings - Reach each sentence below. Are the words meant to be taken literally or figuratively? If the sentence is meant to be taken literally, do nothing.

Literal or Figurative? - Read each set of sentences below. Decide if the underlined word or phrase is used literally or figuratively. Write an L for literal or an F for figurative beside each sentence.

Using Figurative Language in Poetry - Poets often use figurative language to describe what something looks, smells, feels, sounds or tastes like.

Metaphor | Simile | Personification | Hyperbole - Read each sentence. Decide if it contains a Metaphor (M), Simile (S), Personification (P) or Hyperbole (H) and write the corresponding letter on the line.

Idioms - Underline the idiom in each sentence. Then write its meaning on the line.

Idioms 2 - The sentences contain some common idioms. Fill in the blank for each idiom, choosing from the words provided.

Playtime Poems - Which poem should be taken literally? . In the poem Make Believe #2, what is the reader supposed to understand that the dog is doing? What is the dog actually doing?

Flowery Similes - Underline the similes in this poem. Rewrite the first two lines of this poem using literal language.

What In The World? - People learning English as a second language often have trouble because there are so many phrases in English that don't actually mean what the words themselves mean.

What is the Difference between a Literal and Non -Literal Meaning of a Word and Phrase?


Meanings of words and phrases in linguistics are classified into two main categories which include literal and non-literal. Non-literal meanings are also known as figurative language. Literal language means exactly what it tells. On the other hand, non-literal language comprises of figures of speech which do not have exact same meanings as the words used in a phrase. As a writer, you must be able to clearly differentiate between the two. Only then you can understand the proper usage of words and phrases in your writings. The main differences between literal and non-literal meanings are discussed in detail below:


Difference in Length


Literal language consists of simple words and phrases that are usually precise. These words and phrases can be interpreted at first sight without any difficulties. In contrast, non-literal language tends to be more complex. Understanding their meanings can take a little more time. In short, they are not straightforward at all. See the examples below to understand the concept of length in literal and non-literal phrases.
Literal: This shirt is expensive.
Non-literal: This shirt costs an arm and a leg.


Choice of Words


Literal language has different words and phrases compared to non-literal. There is absolutely no use of confusing words in literal language. They express exactly what the writer is trying to portray. Non-literal language has complex words and phrases. The readers are forced to think beyond the literal meanings of words and phrases. Writings with non-literal language can be identified by the use of metaphors, similes, idioms and personifications. For example,

Literal: It's raining heavily.


Non-Literal: It's raining cats and dogs.


Unlike the first example, the second one has used the words cats and dogs to describe the intensity of rain. This would make no sense if interpreted literally.


Purpose


Both types of words and phrases are used according to the purpose of writing. For example, in poetry, poets make maximum use of non-literal language because their aim is to engage the audience. On the contrary, literal language is used for straightforward documents where the purpose is to inform. For instance, official e-mails and documents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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