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 cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The cloud looked… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Laughter is the … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “He swam like a dolphin through the waves”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “He swam like a d… · 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 wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The wind whisper… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
6. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The waves marche… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The old wooden s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The water was as… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The floorboards … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “The runner’s legs felt as heavy as lead”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The runner’s leg… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “Her voice was music to the tired travellers”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Her voice was mu… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “The morning sun smiled down on the harbour”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The morning sun … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 53 · 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 cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing the cloud to a sheep with “like” is a simile.
2. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly equating laughter to medicine is a metaphor.
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. 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 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. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Marching is a human action given to waves.
7. 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.
8. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing water to glass using “as clear as” is a simile.
9. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Complaining is a human action attributed to floorboards.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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 questions · Seed 53 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The cloud looked… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Laughter is the … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “He swam like a dolphin through the waves”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “He swam like a d… · 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 wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The wind whisper… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
6. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The waves marche… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The old wooden s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The water was as… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The floorboards … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “The runner’s legs felt as heavy as lead”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The runner’s leg… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “Her voice was music to the tired travellers”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Her voice was mu… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “The morning sun smiled down on the harbour”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The morning sun … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 53 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Similes, metaphors & personification

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing the cloud to a sheep with “like” is a simile.
2. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly equating laughter to medicine is a metaphor.
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. 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 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. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Marching is a human action given to waves.
7. 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.
8. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing water to glass using “as clear as” is a simile.
9. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Complaining is a human action attributed to floorboards.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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 questions · Seed 53 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification