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 floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The floorboards … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The alarm clock … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The lagoon was a… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The classroom wa… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
5. Classify “The library was a treasure chest of ideas”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The library was … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
6. Classify “Her voice was music to the tired travellers”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Her voice was mu… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Books are keys t… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Laughter is the … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “The camel is the ship of the desert”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The camel is the… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Hope is a bright… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The water was as… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 47 · 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 floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Complaining is a human action attributed to floorboards.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Classify “The library was a treasure chest of ideas”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling the library “a treasure chest” is a metaphor.
6. 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.
7. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly identifying books as “keys” 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 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.
10. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling hope “a bright beacon” is a metaphor.
11. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing water to glass using “as clear as” is a simile.
12. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.

12 questions · Seed 47 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The floorboards … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The alarm clock … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The lagoon was a… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The classroom wa… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
5. Classify “The library was a treasure chest of ideas”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The library was … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
6. Classify “Her voice was music to the tired travellers”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Her voice was mu… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Books are keys t… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Laughter is the … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “The camel is the ship of the desert”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The camel is the… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Hope is a bright… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The water was as… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 47 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Complaining is a human action attributed to floorboards.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Classify “The library was a treasure chest of ideas”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling the library “a treasure chest” is a metaphor.
6. 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.
7. Classify “Books are keys that unlock distant worlds”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly identifying books as “keys” 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 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.
10. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling hope “a bright beacon” is a metaphor.
11. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing water to glass using “as clear as” is a simile.
12. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.

12 questions · Seed 47 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification