Similes & Metaphors · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Similes and Metaphors

English · Vocabulary · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which word usually signals a simile?

    • is
    • as
    • was

  2. Which sentence is a simile?

    • The wind howled like a wolf.
    • The wind was a wolf in the night.
    • The wind howled all night long.

  3. A metaphor uses the word 'like' or 'as' to make its comparison.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. In the metaphor 'The classroom was a zoo,' what does the comparison suggest?

    • The classroom was full of wild animals running around.
    • The classroom was noisy and chaotic, like a zoo
    • The classroom was a fun place to visit

  5. In 'The moon was like a silver coin,' what two things are compared?

    • The moon and the night sky
    • A coin and the color silver
    • The moon and a coin

  6. Which sentence is a metaphor, not a simile?

    • Her smile was like sunshine.
    • Her smile was sunshine.
    • Her smile was as warm as sunshine.

  7. A student reads 'The lake was smooth glass' and says it is a simile because it compares two things. Is the student right?

    • Yes, every comparison is a simile that uses like or as.
    • No, it's a metaphor because there is no 'like' or 'as'
    • No, because lakes and glass are not alike at all.

  8. A writer chooses 'The classroom was a zoo' over 'The classroom was noisy and messy.' Why might the writer choose the metaphor?

    • It has fewer words to spell out loud.
    • It is a true fact about the classroom and the students.
    • It paints a stronger, more vivid picture in the reader's mind
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Similes and Metaphors W1-mt_hJW7hVflm3-s1

  1. as · Similes use 'like' or 'as' to make a comparison, such as 'brave as a lion.'
  2. The wind howled like a wolf. · A simile uses 'like' or 'as' to compare two things. This one compares the wind's sound to a wolf's howl.
  3. False · Metaphors skip 'like' and 'as.' They just say one thing IS another thing.
  4. The classroom was noisy and chaotic, like a zoo · Calling the classroom a zoo suggests it was noisy and chaotic, not that real animals were there.
  5. The moon and a coin · The simile compares the moon to a coin, showing how it shines in the night sky.
  6. Her smile was sunshine. · This sentence says her smile IS sunshine, with no 'like' or 'as,' so it is a metaphor.
  7. No, it's a metaphor because there is no 'like' or 'as' · Comparing two things is not enough to make something a simile. Without 'like' or 'as,' it's a metaphor.
  8. It paints a stronger, more vivid picture in the reader's mind · Comparing the classroom to a zoo makes the reader imagine chaos and noise, more vivid than a plain description.
Worksheet · LightMySky