Hyperbole Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.5.5.A

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

In Greek "Hyperbole" originates from a word that express excess. In the English, hyperbole is a figure of speech that goes extreme or off the cliff with exaggeration. This is often used to make a significant point and to emphasis that what the author is trying to draw attention to. For example if a fire was to break out in a building and there was excessive firefighter presence, you might say: "There were a million firefighters at the house." There were not literally a million people at the scene, but you get my drift. These worksheets help students sniff out the use of hyperbole and even write their own.

Hyperbole Worksheets To Print:

Exaggerated Phrases - Make the sentence a little bolder or a lot bolder. Beef them up. You can put a little effort in to capture your audience.

Search For It - See if you can find out what is fishy about this story. The first one has been done for you.

Yes/No - Just as if you were in a court of law. Read through all the sentences and see if this technique has been applied.

Circle It - That is really fast to cook and way too much candy. Spot all the impactful sentences in this series.

Fill in the Blanks - That is quite a jump that his brother has. It is fun to share these with other students and see who has the best one.

Using Hyperbole - Practice using this technique by writing a sentence in the space provided using each phrase.

Billy is a nice guy! - Underline each example of hyperbole you find. This is a sailing poem. Set sail!

Hyperbole or No! - If it is used, write "Hyperbole" in the space provided. If the sentence does not contain use it, rewrite the sentence for extra credit.

Learning the Purpose - Rewrite each sentence using hyperbole. You will also take so time and identify its use.

Find Them in Sentences - Read the sentences and circle each time you spot it being used. The more practice you get, the easier it becomes.

Using Hyperbole - Use the descriptions below to write a sentence in the space provided using it.

Paragraphs - Read the paragraph and underline each example you find. You will also create your own thoughts with this technique.

Is It Live? - If the sentence does not contain it, rewrite it using hyperbole. This is a great exercise.

More Exercise - Complete the sentence by writing a hyperbole in the blank space that matches the description.

Label It So - A quick pop quiz for you. Let's look at this. A good way to get a review in before you complete the unit.

How Hyperboles Make the World More Fun


Sometimes exaggeration frustrates people because they see it as devious or at least misleading. Extreme exaggeration whether to be believed or not always makes people smile just because it so unbelievable. Your son or daughter might say to you, "My homework is going to take me all night!" If believed to be true, you might cancel plans and find out it was only an hour worth of homework. This can frustrate any parent. But, if the statement were posed in hyperbole you would have a good idea that your child was just venting. An example, based on the first statement might be: "Wow, my homework is going to take me a thousand hours!"


Hyperbole when used in speeches always leads to chuckle from the intended audience. In fact many speech writers purposefully insert its use methodically through the course of a speech. See if you can spot the uses in the next prepared speech you hear.


Advertising professionals build their careers on the use of timed hyperbole to get across the benefits of the products or services they represent. Try to find an infomercial that doesn't use it often, you would be looking for weeks. I just saw a commercial that touted the strength of a briefcase. "So strong, you can throw it from the top of your office building!"


Why Do Artists and Writers Use Hyperbole?


In most of the different art forms that it makes it is way into the primary purpose is to grossly exaggerate a point, feeling, or emotion. It is interesting that they are often delivered in an emotional charged manner as well. You will find that in many different situation hyperbole is often coupled with other literary devices to heighten the nature of its relevance. When used correctly, it not only grabs a reader or audience it usually results in a laugh or point that is remembered. You find comedies often heavily use a mixture of these literary devices. In most comedic plays, they often result in the most laughs. When you are the writer or artist it is often helpful to begin your work by stating all the qualities that you wish each character to have. Once you begin to write you can quickly see where this may lead you to use this type of tool in your writing to make the work more vivid for your audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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