EnglishAges 13-15

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 13-15

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Classify “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The stars sparkl… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “The snow lay like a white blanket across the valley”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The snow lay lik… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The alarm clock … · 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 “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Autumn leaves da… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The wind whisper… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “He swam like a dolphin through the waves”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “He swam like a d… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “The classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The classroom wa… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The floorboards … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The waves marche… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Similes, metaphors & personification

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Classify “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing stars to diamonds using “like” is a simile.
2. 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.
3. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.
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. 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 “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Dancing is a human movement attributed to leaves, which is personification.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Complaining is a human action attributed to floorboards.
11. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.
12. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Marching is a human action given to waves.

12 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Classify “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The stars sparkl… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “The snow lay like a white blanket across the valley”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The snow lay lik… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The alarm clock … · 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 “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Autumn leaves da… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The wind whisper… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “He swam like a dolphin through the waves”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “He swam like a d… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “The classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The classroom wa… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The floorboards … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The waves marche… · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Similes, metaphors & personification

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Classify “The stars sparkled like diamonds in the night sky”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing stars to diamonds using “like” is a simile.
2. 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.
3. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.
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. 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 “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Dancing is a human movement attributed to leaves, which is personification.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Complaining is a human action attributed to floorboards.
11. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.
12. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Marching is a human action given to waves.

12 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification