Printable Similes and Metaphors Worksheets
Printable similes and metaphors worksheets for 2nd through 5th grade, with an answer key on every sheet. The sets below cover 3 different skills, so you can start where your child actually is. Available as fill in the blank.
Targeted Practice by Skill
About Similes and Metaphors
What this skill is
Similes and metaphors are figures of speech that compare two unlike objects to highlight a shared characteristic. A simile uses comparison words "like" or "as" (e.g., "as brave as a lion"), while a metaphor states a direct equivalence (e.g., "time is a thief"). Studying comparative figurative language enriches reading comprehension, sensory imagery, and descriptive creative writing skills across literary genres, essay writing, and poetry.
When children learn it
Basic similes using 'like' and 'as' are introduced in 2nd grade and 3rd grade. Direct metaphors and extended figurative comparison analysis are detailed across 4th grade and 5th grade reading and creative writing units, poetry lessons, essay drafting, literature circles, and literary analysis workshops.
Common Mistakes
- Labeling any sentence containing 'like' or 'as' as a simile, even when no comparison is made (e.g., 'I like ice cream').
- Confusing similes and metaphors, failing to spot the presence or absence of comparison words 'like' or 'as'.
- Interpreting figurative comparisons literally, assuming 'he is a night owl' means the person is an actual bird.