5th Grade ELA Flashcards: Determine Figurative Word Meanings

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Determine Figurative Word Meanings, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for 5th Grade ELA.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Identify the figurative language: "The classroom was a zoo during indoor recess."

Answer: Metaphor. States classroom IS zoo without "like" or "as."

Flashcard 2: Identify the figurative language: "The wind whispered through the trees."

Answer: Personification. Wind can't literally whisper; it's given human ability.

Flashcard 3: What is personification?

Answer: Giving human traits to nonhuman things. Makes objects or animals seem human to create vivid descriptions.

Flashcard 4: What is a simile?

Answer: A comparison using like or as. Creates imagery by comparing two unlike things with connecting words.

Flashcard 5: What does the idiom "break the ice" mean during a first meeting?

Answer: Make people feel more comfortable and start conversation. No ice involved; means reducing social tension.

Flashcard 6: Which phrase is a simile: "as quiet as a mouse" or "time is a thief"?

Answer: as quiet as a mouse. Contains "as" which signals a simile comparison.

Flashcard 7: Identify the figurative language: "The wind whispered through the trees."

Answer: Personification. Wind can't actually whisper; it's given human ability.

Flashcard 8: What is an idiom?

Answer: A phrase with a meaning different from its literal words. Common expressions whose meanings can't be understood word-by-word.

Flashcard 9: Which context clue type shows meaning by using opposite ideas (signal words: but, however, unlike)?

Answer: Contrast clue. Opposite meanings help define the unknown word.

Flashcard 10: What is hyperbole in figurative language?

Answer: An extreme exaggeration not meant to be taken literally. Exaggerates for emphasis, not factual truth.

Flashcard 11: Which context clue type uses contrast: "Unlike his timid sister, Max was bold"?

Answer: contrast clue. "Unlike" signals opposite meaning between timid and bold.

Flashcard 12: What should you do first to determine the meaning of an unknown word in a story?

Answer: Reread the sentence and look for context clues. Context clues in surrounding text help decode meaning.

Flashcard 13: Use context clues: "He was reluctant, but he agreed after more time." What does reluctant mean?

Answer: Unwilling. "But he agreed after more time" shows hesitation, defining reluctant.

Flashcard 14: Identify the meaning of "draft" in: "She wrote a draft of her story before revising."

Answer: a first version of a piece of writing. Context of writing and revising indicates a rough copy.

Flashcard 15: Which sense is most emphasized in "The cinnamon scent filled the warm kitchen"?

Answer: Smell. "Cinnamon scent" directly appeals to sense of smell.

Flashcard 16: Identify the figurative language: "The puppy was as soft as a cloud."

Answer: Simile. Uses "as...as" to compare puppy's softness to a cloud.

Flashcard 17: What does the metaphor "Time is a thief" mean?

Answer: Time passes quickly and takes moments away. Thieves steal; time "steals" moments from our lives.

Flashcard 18: What is the figurative meaning of a word or phrase?

Answer: A nonliteral meaning meant to create an effect. Goes beyond literal to convey emotion or imagery.

Flashcard 19: Choose the meaning of the idiom: "spill the beans."

Answer: Reveal a secret. This idiom means to tell information that was supposed to be kept quiet.

Flashcard 20: Identify the figurative language: "Her smile was sunshine on a gloomy day."

Answer: Metaphor. Says smile IS sunshine without using like or as.

Flashcard 21: Which context clue type uses a definition: "A glider, a light aircraft, has no engine"?

Answer: definition (appositive) clue. The phrase after comma defines the word before it.

Flashcard 22: Identify the figurative language: "I have told you a million times to be careful."

Answer: Hyperbole. "Million times" is an impossible exaggeration for effect.

Flashcard 23: What does the idiom "hit the books" mean in most texts?

Answer: to study. This idiom means to begin studying seriously.

Flashcard 24: Identify the meaning of "cold" in: "She gave him a cold look and turned away."

Answer: unfriendly or lacking warmth. "Cold" here describes emotional distance, not temperature.

Flashcard 25: How do you determine the meaning of a multiple-meaning word in a passage?

Answer: Choose the meaning that best fits the context and tone of the sentence. Context determines which definition applies to ambiguous words.

Flashcard 26: What does the idiom "break the ice" mean in most texts?

Answer: to start a friendly conversation and reduce awkwardness. This idiom means making people feel comfortable.

Flashcard 27: Identify the meaning of "draft" in: "A cold draft slipped under the door."

Answer: a current of air. Context of door and cold indicates moving air.

Flashcard 28: Use context clues: "The arid land was dry and cracked." What does arid mean?

Answer: Very dry. "Dry and cracked" directly defines arid through restatement.

Flashcard 29: What does the phrase "as busy as a bee" mean in most texts?

Answer: Very busy and active. Bees constantly work, so this means extremely active.

Flashcard 30: Which meaning of "pounded" fits: "My heart pounded before the speech"?

Answer: beat quickly and strongly. Heart doesn't literally pound; means rapid, strong heartbeat.

Flashcard 31: What does the idiom "spill the beans" mean in most texts?

Answer: to reveal a secret. This idiom means accidentally telling confidential information.

Flashcard 32: What is hyperbole in a text?

Answer: An extreme exaggeration not meant literally. Exaggerates for emphasis or humor, not to deceive.

Flashcard 33: What is the literal meaning of a word or phrase?

Answer: Its exact, dictionary meaning. The actual, straightforward definition without interpretation.

Flashcard 34: What is the meaning of the term "context clues" in reading?

Answer: Words around an unknown word that help explain its meaning. These surrounding words provide hints about unfamiliar vocabulary.

Flashcard 35: Which clue type uses examples to explain a word: "arboreal animals, such as monkeys and sloths"?

Answer: Example clue. "Such as" introduces specific examples of arboreal animals.

Flashcard 36: Identify the figurative language: "I have told you a million times."

Answer: Hyperbole. "Million times" is impossible exaggeration for effect.

Flashcard 37: What is the definition of context clues when determining a word's meaning in a text?

Answer: Hints in surrounding text that help explain an unknown word or phrase. Context clues are words or phrases near an unknown term that help readers understand its meaning.

Flashcard 38: What is figurative language?

Answer: Language that is not meant to be taken literally. Uses words creatively beyond their literal definitions.

Flashcard 39: What is the difference between connotation and denotation of a word?

Answer: Denotation is literal meaning; connotation is the feeling or idea it suggests. Denotation is dictionary definition; connotation is emotional association.

Flashcard 40: What is personification in figurative language?

Answer: Giving human traits to something nonhuman. Makes non-human things act like humans.

Flashcard 41: What is an idiom, and how is it different from literal language?

Answer: An idiom has a nonliteral meaning that differs from the words' literal meaning. Idioms' meanings can't be understood from individual words.

Flashcard 42: Which context clue type shows meaning by cause-and-effect relationships (because, so, therefore)?

Answer: Cause-and-effect clue. The word's meaning is revealed through its results or reasons.

Flashcard 43: Which clue type is used: "The water was frigid, or extremely cold"?

Answer: Definition or restatement clue. "Or" signals the definition follows the unknown word.

Flashcard 44: What does the idiom "spill the beans" mean in most contexts?

Answer: Reveal a secret. Beans don't literally spill; means telling information.

Flashcard 45: What is imagery in literature?

Answer: Language that appeals to the senses to create a vivid picture. Uses descriptive words to help readers visualize scenes.

Flashcard 46: Identify the meaning of "bright" in: "He had a bright idea during science class."

Answer: smart or clever. "Bright" describes intelligence, not light intensity.

Flashcard 47: Identify the figurative language: "Her smile was like sunshine."

Answer: Simile. Uses "like" to compare smile to sunshine.

Flashcard 48: Which context clue type uses a short definition nearby (often with commas or parentheses)?

Answer: Definition (or restatement) clue. The unknown word is directly defined in the sentence.

Flashcard 49: Identify the figurative meaning of: "The wind whispered through the trees."

Answer: The wind made a soft, quiet sound. Personification gives wind human ability to whisper.

Flashcard 50: Which context clue type shows a meaning by giving examples (often with for example or such as)?

Answer: Example clue. Specific instances help clarify the word's meaning.

Flashcard 51: Identify the meaning of "barked" in: "The coach barked orders from the sideline."

Answer: spoke sharply or loudly. Coach didn't literally bark like a dog; means spoke harshly.

Flashcard 52: What is a metaphor?

Answer: A comparison that says one thing is another. Direct comparison without using like or as creates stronger imagery.

Flashcard 53: Which phrase is a metaphor: "as bright as the sun" or "the classroom was a zoo"?

Answer: the classroom was a zoo. Says classroom "was" a zoo, making it a metaphor.

Flashcard 54: What is the meaning of the term context clues in reading?

Answer: Words around an unknown word that help define it. These surrounding words provide hints about unfamiliar vocabulary.