Simile and Metaphor Worksheets

Similes and metaphors are related figurative language techniques. Both similes and metaphors draw comparisons between two or more things; however, there are some key differences between them. Similes always use the word like or the word as to make the comparison. Metaphors do not use the word like or as. Consequently, metaphors can be more implicit and harder to identify.

This is an example of a metaphor. The speaker is comparing her eyes to heaven, but this is not done explicitly. The comparison is implied. Here is the same example but turned into a simile.

This is an example of a simile. In this one the comparison is more explicit. It is easier to identify that the speaker is making a comparison.

The worksheets and activities on this page will give students laser focused practice (implicit metaphor BTW) to help them become simile and metaphor experts. These worksheets are available in a variety of formats: PDF files for printing exactly as I formatted these worksheets, RTF files for making changes before using them in your own classroom, and Ereading Worksheets for completing online on any Internet connected device.

Simile and Metaphor Worksheet 1

This worksheet has 20 examples of simile and metaphor. Students read each example, determine whether it is a simile or metaphor, then explain which two things are being compared. Want to differentiate instruction and make it harder for some students? Ask your high performing pupils to translate each example to literal language as well. Have them explain what the speaker is saying without the poetic devices. With two double-sided sheets, this worksheet is as time-consuming as it is helpful.

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Simile and Metaphor Worksheet 2

Here's another 20 simile and metaphor examples to help students master this figurative language skill. Again, students read each example, circle whether it is a simile or metaphor, and then explain which two things are being compared. Also, I recommend that you have your high achieving students translate each example into literal language as well, particularly if you are assigning this as classwork. I find that some students work through these problems very quickly and need an additional cognitive task to keep them challenged.

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Simile and Metaphor Worksheet 3

Yet another 20 simile and metaphor examples to give students the practice that they need with distinguishing between similes and metaphors. As with the others, this worksheet uses two double-sided sheets, but you can save a lot of paper by not printing them at all. Just assign students the Ereading Worksheet at the bottom of this paragraph. It contains the same questions and long response field for explaining which two things are being compared. The online questions are graded automatically, offering instant feedback to students and reduced workload for teachers, and results can be printed, saved, emailed, or even shared to FaceBook.

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Simile and Metaphor Worksheet 4

Here's one more worksheet on similes and metaphors to help students master these techniques. This one is a little bit harder than the other three, but still pretty easy if you know what you're doing. Again, students will read 20 examples of similes and metaphors. They will identify each technique and explain which two things are being compared.

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I hope that these worksheets give students an adequate amount of practice with identifying similes and metaphors. I believe that they will. If your students need more practice with figurative language and poetic devices, I have many more activities on this website. Check some of the links below to find your next activity. Thanks for visiting!