Grade 3 · Grammar · Vocabulary

3rd Grade Literal and Nonliteral Language worksheets

6 printable versionsBuilding ConfidenceAbout 8 minutes eachFree · no account

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Literal and Nonliteral Language

Grade 3 Grammar Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the answer, or write your answer on the lines.

1.
What does “a piece of cake” mean? “The spelling test was a piece of cake for Lily.”
- It was very easy.
- It was a dessert.
- It was very hard.
2.
What does “raining cats and dogs” mean? “We stayed inside because it was raining cats and dogs.”
- It was a little cloudy.
- It was raining very hard.
- Pets were falling from the sky.
3.
Which sentence is literal?
- The cat slept on the rug.
- Ben has a heart of gold.
- My backpack weighs a ton.
4.
What does “under the weather” mean? “Kofi stayed home because he felt under the weather.”
- He felt very happy.
- He felt sick.
- He stood under a cloud.
5.
What does “butterflies in her stomach” mean? “Before the play, Ava had butterflies in her stomach.”
- She felt nervous.
- Butterflies flew around her.
- She felt sleepy.
6.
Which sentence is nonliteral?
- My little brother is six years old.
- My little brother likes to talk.
- My little brother is a chatterbox.
7.
What does “zip your lip” mean? “Zip your lip during the movie, please.”
- Close your jacket.
- Eat your snack.
- Be quiet.
8.
What does “in hot water” mean? “Sam was in hot water for leaving his bike in the rain.”
- He took a warm bath.
- He was very thirsty.
- He was in trouble.
9.
What does “keep an eye on” mean? “Please keep an eye on your little sister.”
- Watch her carefully.
- Give her a toy.
- Put your eye near her.
Rewrite the sentence with an idiom that means very easy. Then tell what it means. Draft: The math game was very easy.

3rd Grade Literal and Nonliteral Language worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Literal and Nonliteral Language matters in third grade because students are writing longer answers and need grammar choices that make meaning clear. Third graders may choose a word that sounds familiar instead of checking the sentence meaning or the word part. This worksheet keeps the work inside complete sentences instead of isolated labels. Students identify the target language feature, choose a clear revision, use sentence clues, and explain why the answer fits. The items rotate across identifying the feature, choosing a correct revision, explaining what a word or mark does, and rejecting common distractors.

Support versions use familiar school contexts and shorter sentences. Standard and challenge versions add closer choices and more varied wording. Encourage your child to read the whole sentence aloud before answering, then check whether the answer fits both the grammar rule and the meaning. That habit prevents guessing from one nearby word and builds editing habits for real writing.

What your child will learn

Use the target Grade 3 language skill
Read sentence clues
Choose precise words
Explain grammar or vocabulary evidence

Common Core standard: L.3.5.A

Worked example

A strong language answer fits the sentence and can be explained with a grammar rule or context clue.

Common mistake

Guessing from one nearby word without rereading the full sentence.

Helpful hint

Ask whether the words mean exactly what they say.

Next skill: Domain-Specific Vocabulary Earlier: Prefix and Suffix Meanings

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with literal and nonliteral language?

Guessing from one nearby word without rereading the full sentence.

How can I help my child with literal and nonliteral language?

Ask whether the words mean exactly what they say.

Are these 3rd grade grammar worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

More 3rd grade vocabulary

See all vocabulary

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