EnglishAges 13-15

Similes, metaphors & personification

Distinguish between similes, metaphors and personification in descriptive sentences. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

New variation Try interactive challenge Browse templates

Age band:Ages 10-12 Ages 13-15

Choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy. Use your browser’s paper setting for A4 or Letter.

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

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 classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The classroom wa… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “Her voice was music to the tired travellers”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Her voice was mu… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The lagoon was a… · 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 runner’s legs felt as heavy as lead”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The runner’s leg… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The waves marche… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Laughter is the … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “The kitten’s fur was as soft as silk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The kitten’s fur… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Autumn leaves da… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The floorboards … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 68 · 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 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 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
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 runner’s legs felt as heavy as lead”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing legs to lead with “as heavy as” is a simile.
7. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.
8. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Marching is a human action given to waves.
9. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly equating laughter to medicine is a metaphor.
10. 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.
11. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Dancing is a human movement attributed to leaves, which is personification.
12. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Complaining is a human action attributed to floorboards.

12 questions · Seed 68 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

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 classroom was a beehive of activity before the fair”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The classroom wa… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
3. Classify “Her voice was music to the tired travellers”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Her voice was mu… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
4. Classify “The lagoon was as smooth as a mirror”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The lagoon was a… · 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 runner’s legs felt as heavy as lead”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The runner’s leg… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
7. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The headlights s… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
8. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The waves marche… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
9. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Laughter is the … · Similes, metaphors & perso…
10. Classify “The kitten’s fur was as soft as silk”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The kitten’s fur… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
11. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “Autumn leaves da… · Similes, metaphors & perso…
12. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Classify “The floorboards … · Similes, metaphors & perso…

12 questions · Seed 68 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

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 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
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 runner’s legs felt as heavy as lead”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Simile
Comparing legs to lead with “as heavy as” is a simile.
7. Classify “The headlights stared into the fog”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Staring is a human action attributed to headlights.
8. Classify “The waves marched steadily toward the shore”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Marching is a human action given to waves.
9. Classify “Laughter is the best medicine”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Metaphor
Directly equating laughter to medicine is a metaphor.
10. 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.
11. Classify “Autumn leaves danced across the courtyard”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Dancing is a human movement attributed to leaves, which is personification.
12. Classify “The floorboards complained as we tiptoed past”: Simile, Metaphor or Personification?
Personification
Complaining is a human action attributed to floorboards.

12 questions · Seed 68 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification