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 lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The lagoon was a… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Hope is a bright… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The old wooden s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The water was as… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
5. Classify “The morning sun smiled down on the harbour”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The morning sun … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
6. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The cloud looked… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The kitten’s fur was as soft as silk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The kitten’s fur… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Laughter is the … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “The snow lay like a white blanket across the valley”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The snow lay lik… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The alarm clock … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 45 · 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 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.
2. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling hope “a bright beacon” is a metaphor.
3. 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.
4. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing water to glass using “as clear as” is a simile.
5. 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.
6. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing the cloud to a sheep with “like” is a simile.
7. Classify “The kitten’s fur was as soft as silk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing fur to silk with “as soft as” is a simile.
8. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly equating laughter to medicine is a metaphor.
9. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.
10. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Similes, metaphors & personification

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The lagoon was a… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
2. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Hope is a bright… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “The old wooden stairs groaned under the heavy trunk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The old wooden s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The water was as… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
5. Classify “The morning sun smiled down on the harbour”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The morning sun … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
6. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The cloud looked… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The kitten’s fur was as soft as silk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The kitten’s fur… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Laughter is the … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Time is a thief … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “The snow lay like a white blanket across the valley”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The snow lay lik… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “The alarm clock shouted at six every morning”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The alarm clock … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Similes, metaphors & personification

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. Classify “Hope is a bright beacon in a storm”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling hope “a bright beacon” is a metaphor.
3. 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.
4. Classify “The water was as clear as glass”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing water to glass using “as clear as” is a simile.
5. 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.
6. Classify “The cloud looked like a fluffy sheep”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing the cloud to a sheep with “like” is a simile.
7. Classify “The kitten’s fur was as soft as silk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing fur to silk with “as soft as” is a simile.
8. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly equating laughter to medicine is a metaphor.
9. Classify “Time is a thief that steals unguarded hours”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly calling time “a thief” is a metaphor.
10. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification