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 “The camel is the ship of the desert”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The camel is the… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The waves marche… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The wind whisper… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
5. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The lagoon was a… · 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 “The morning sun smiled down on the harbour”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The morning sun … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The alarm clock … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The old wooden s… · 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 “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The stars sparkl… · 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 59 · 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 “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.
3. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Marching is a human action given to waves.
4. 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.
5. 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.
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 “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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
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 “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing stars to diamonds using “like” is a simile.
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 59 · 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 “The camel is the ship of the desert”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The camel is the… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The waves marche… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The wind whisper… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
5. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The lagoon was a… · 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 “The morning sun smiled down on the harbour”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The morning sun … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The alarm clock … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The old wooden s… · 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 “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The stars sparkl… · 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 59 · 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 “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.
3. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Marching is a human action given to waves.
4. 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.
5. 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.
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 “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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
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 “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing stars to diamonds using “like” is a simile.
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 59 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification