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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 10-12Ages 13-15

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

  1. 1. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  2. 2. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “Books are keys t… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  3. 3. Classify “He swam like a dolphin through the waves”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “He swam like a d… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  4. 4. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The alarm clock … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  5. 5. Classify “The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The wind whisper… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  6. 6. Classify “The snow lay like a white blanket across the valley”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The snow lay lik… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  7. 7. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “Hope is a bright… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  8. 8. Classify “The runner’s legs felt as heavy as lead”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The runner’s leg… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  9. 9. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The cloud looked… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  10. 10. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “Autumn leaves da… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  11. 11. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  12. 12. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The old wooden s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12 questions · Seed 104742 · 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. 1. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Metaphor

    Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.

  2. 2. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Metaphor

    Directly identifying books as “keys” is a metaphor.

  3. 3. Classify “He swam like a dolphin through the waves”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Simile

    It compares his swimming to a dolphin using “like”, making it a simile.

  4. 4. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Personification

    Shouting is a human action given to an alarm clock, which is personification.

  5. 5. 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.

  6. 6. Classify “The snow lay like a white blanket across the valley”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Simile

    Using “like” to compare snow to a blanket makes this a simile.

  7. 7. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Metaphor

    Directly calling hope “a bright beacon” is a metaphor.

  8. 8. Classify “The runner’s legs felt as heavy as lead”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Simile

    Comparing legs to lead with “as heavy as” is a simile.

  9. 9. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Simile

    Comparing the cloud to a sheep with “like” is a simile.

  10. 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. 11. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Personification

    Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.

  12. 12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 104742 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

  1. 1. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  2. 2. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “Books are keys t… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  3. 3. Classify “He swam like a dolphin through the waves”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “He swam like a d… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  4. 4. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The alarm clock … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  5. 5. Classify “The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The wind whisper… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  6. 6. Classify “The snow lay like a white blanket across the valley”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The snow lay lik… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  7. 7. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “Hope is a bright… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  8. 8. Classify “The runner’s legs felt as heavy as lead”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The runner’s leg… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  9. 9. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The cloud looked… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  10. 10. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “Autumn leaves da… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  11. 11. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

  12. 12. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Classify “The old wooden s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12 questions · Seed 104742 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

  1. 1. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Metaphor

    Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.

  2. 2. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Metaphor

    Directly identifying books as “keys” is a metaphor.

  3. 3. Classify “He swam like a dolphin through the waves”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Simile

    It compares his swimming to a dolphin using “like”, making it a simile.

  4. 4. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Personification

    Shouting is a human action given to an alarm clock, which is personification.

  5. 5. 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.

  6. 6. Classify “The snow lay like a white blanket across the valley”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Simile

    Using “like” to compare snow to a blanket makes this a simile.

  7. 7. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Metaphor

    Directly calling hope “a bright beacon” is a metaphor.

  8. 8. Classify “The runner’s legs felt as heavy as lead”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Simile

    Comparing legs to lead with “as heavy as” is a simile.

  9. 9. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Simile

    Comparing the cloud to a sheep with “like” is a simile.

  10. 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. 11. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?

    Personification

    Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.

  12. 12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 104742 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification