Similes and Metaphors Worksheet

Similes 

A simile is a statement used to describe something by comparing it to something else. For example, Mike's been as busy as a bee this week. When we compare how busy Mike has been to a bee it helps us to imagine just how busy he has been. Similes use words such as like, as or such to compare the thing being described.

A. Use a word from the box below to complete each sentence.

doornail   cucumber silk   honey ox peas     pancake whistle thieves  clockwork fox fiddle

1. These peaches are as sweet as honey

2. The twins are alike as peas in a pod

3. This material is as smooth as silk

4. The thief is no doubt as crafty as a fox

5. After his stay in hospital Mike is now as fit as a  fidle 

6. These friends are as thick as theives

7. During the fire he stayed as cool as a cucumber

8. After it was washed my shirt was as clean as a whistle

9. The new boy is as strong as an ox

10. The postie comes as regular as clockwork

11. After it was run over it was as flat as a pancake

12. The old tree is now as dead as a doornail

B. Choose a word from the below to complete each simile.

ice   bell coal   mule gold swan   kitten eel snail   rain leather toast

1. As warm as toast

2. As tough as leather

3. As right as rain

4. As black as coal

5. As playful as a kitten

6. As sound as a bell

7. As graceful as a swan

8. As good as gold

9. As stubborn as a mule 

10. As slow as a snail

11. As cold as ice 

12. As slippery as an eel

C. Make up your own similes. Simply compare a person you know or any object to something else that has certain qualities. Remember to use like, as or such.

Simile One : As slow as a sloth

Simile Two : As fast as a cheetah

Simile Three : As tired as a tiger

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Metaphors  are used to make prose or poetry more colourful. We form metaphors by saying (or comparing) something is something else, 

e.g. "The grass was a carpet of green."

Here is a famous example:

The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees

 The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy Seas, 

The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, 

And the highwayman came riding -- 

Riding -- riding -- 

And the Highwayman came riding up to the old inn door.

In this verse the poet has used four metaphors. He compares the wind to a torrent of darkness; the moon to a ghostly galleon; the road to a ribbon of moonlight; the clouds to a rough sea. 

Here are some more metaphors: 

When he left he broke my heart.

My blood curdled when I heard the noise.

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A. Underline the metaphor in each sentence. The first one has been done for you. You’re welcome :) 

1.  I like Sally because she is always full of beans.

2. Tom is a wet blanket all the time. 

3. The coal-black night was quiet. 

4. My blood boiled when I heard the results. 

5. At football Sam was a giant. 

6. Tom is a big fish in a little pond. 

7. Mike can be hard hearted. 

8. After my win, I was light headed. 

9. She came home walking on air. 

10. Matthew is down in the dumps. (Continue on with the next page, please.)

B. Create a metaphor or a simile to add interest to these sentences. The first example is done for you. 

1. Sam is crazy. He is as mad as a hatter. 

2. Tam is always happy. She is a pig in mud

3. My dog runs quickly. It is a lightning bolt

4. Sally feels lonely. She is a small fish in a big pond

C. Write metaphors saying what each of these things are. Use vivid descriptions.

1. Stars are freflies in the night sky.

2. Clock are n

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