EnglishAges 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

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

New variation Try interactive challenge Browse templates

Age band:Ages 10-12 Ages 13-15

Choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy. Use your browser’s paper setting for A4 or Letter.

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The lagoon was a… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The cloud looked… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The stars sparkl… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
5. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Autumn leaves da… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
6. Classify “The classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The classroom wa… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The camel is the ship of the desert”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The camel is the… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Laughter is the … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The old wooden s… · 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 library was a treasure chest of ideas”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The library was … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 46 · 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 “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.
2. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
It compares the lagoon to a mirror using “as … as”, which is a simile.
3. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing the cloud to a sheep with “like” is a simile.
4. Classify “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing stars to diamonds using “like” is a simile.
5. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Dancing is a human movement attributed to leaves, which is personification.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly equating laughter to medicine is a metaphor.
9. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.
10. 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.
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 library was a treasure chest of ideas”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling the library “a treasure chest” is a metaphor.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The lagoon was a… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The cloud looked… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The stars sparkl… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
5. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Autumn leaves da… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
6. Classify “The classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The classroom wa… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The camel is the ship of the desert”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The camel is the… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Laughter is the … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The old wooden s… · 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 library was a treasure chest of ideas”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The library was … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.
2. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
It compares the lagoon to a mirror using “as … as”, which is a simile.
3. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing the cloud to a sheep with “like” is a simile.
4. Classify “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing stars to diamonds using “like” is a simile.
5. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Dancing is a human movement attributed to leaves, which is personification.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly equating laughter to medicine is a metaphor.
9. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.
10. 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.
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 library was a treasure chest of ideas”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling the library “a treasure chest” is a metaphor.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification