EnglishAges 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Distinguish between similes, metaphors and personification in descriptive sentences. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Age band:Ages 10-12 Ages 13-15

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The old wooden s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “The classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The classroom wa… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “Her voice was music to the tired travellers”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Her voice was mu… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The waves marche… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
5. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
6. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The water was as… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The wind whisper… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Books are keys t… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Autumn leaves da… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “The morning sun smiled down on the harbour”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The morning sun … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “The camel is the ship of the desert”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The camel is the… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 104735 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Groaning is a human response attributed to wooden stairs, which is personification.
2. Classify “The classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
It directly equates the busy classroom to a beehive, which is a metaphor.
3. Classify “Her voice was music to the tired travellers”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
It directly states that her voice was music without using “like” or “as”, which is a metaphor.
4. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Marching is a human action given to waves.
5. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.
6. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.
7. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing water to glass using “as clear as” is a simile.
8. Classify “The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Whispering secrets is a human action given to the wind, which is personification.
9. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly identifying books as “keys” is a metaphor.
10. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Dancing is a human movement attributed to leaves, which is personification.
11. Classify “The morning sun smiled down on the harbour”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Smiling is a human expression attributed to the sun, which is personification.
12. Classify “The camel is the ship of the desert”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Calling the camel “the ship of the desert” without “like” or “as” is a metaphor.

12 questions · Seed 104735 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The old wooden s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “The classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The classroom wa… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “Her voice was music to the tired travellers”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Her voice was mu… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The waves marche… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
5. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
6. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The water was as… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The wind whisper… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Books are keys t… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Autumn leaves da… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “The morning sun smiled down on the harbour”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The morning sun … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “The camel is the ship of the desert”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The camel is the… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 104735 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Groaning is a human response attributed to wooden stairs, which is personification.
2. Classify “The classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
It directly equates the busy classroom to a beehive, which is a metaphor.
3. Classify “Her voice was music to the tired travellers”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
It directly states that her voice was music without using “like” or “as”, which is a metaphor.
4. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Marching is a human action given to waves.
5. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.
6. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.
7. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing water to glass using “as clear as” is a simile.
8. Classify “The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Whispering secrets is a human action given to the wind, which is personification.
9. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly identifying books as “keys” is a metaphor.
10. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Dancing is a human movement attributed to leaves, which is personification.
11. Classify “The morning sun smiled down on the harbour”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Smiling is a human expression attributed to the sun, which is personification.
12. Classify “The camel is the ship of the desert”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Calling the camel “the ship of the desert” without “like” or “as” is a metaphor.

12 questions · Seed 104735 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification