Printable Similes and Metaphors Worksheets
Simile and metaphor worksheets teach elementary students to craft vivid comparisons using like, as, and direct equivalence. These printable practice pages feature comparison frames and answer keys.
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Structured, printable skill sheets with step-by-step guidance for Similes and Metaphors.
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About Similes and Metaphors
What this skill is
Similes compare two different things using the signal words "like" or "as" ("as brave as a lion"). Metaphors state that one thing IS another without comparison words ("the classroom was a zoo").
When children learn it
Determining the meaning of literal and nonliteral language begins in 3rd grade (CCSS 3.RL.4) and expands to figurative analysis in 4th and 5th grade (CCSS 4.L.5.a, 5.L.5.a).
Teaching Tips
- Look for the signal words: if the sentence uses "like" or "as", it is a SIMILE. If it uses "is" or "was" to say one thing equals another, it is a METAPHOR. Circle the signal words on worksheets first.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing similes and metaphors, not noticing the presence of "like" or "as".
- Taking metaphors literally (thinking the classroom actually had monkeys in it).
- Relying on tired clichés instead of inventing fresh imagery.