SOLUTION: Simile and metaphor worksheet - Studypool - Free Printable

Let's go through each item on the Simile and Metaphor Worksheet carefully, identifying whether each example is a simile or a metaphor, and explaining what two things are being compared.

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🔹 Understanding the Difference:

- Simile: Uses words like *like* or *as* to make a comparison.
- Example: "She runs like the wind."
- Metaphor: Directly states that one thing is another, without using *like* or *as*.
- Example: "Time is a thief."

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Now let’s analyze each sentence:

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✔ 1. The coins gleam like cold snake scales.

- This is an example of... → simile
*(Because it uses "like")*

- What two things are being compared?
→ The gleam of the coins is being compared to cold snake scales.

> 💡 Explanation: The shiny, reflective surface of the coins is likened to the smooth, cool, scaly skin of a snake — creating a visual and tactile image.

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✔ 2. Swords of rain stabbed the earth.

- This is an example of... → metaphor
*(No "like" or "as"; instead, rain is directly called "swords")*

- What two things are being compared?
→ Rain is being compared to swords.

> 💡 Explanation: The sharp, forceful drops of rain are described as if they were swords piercing the ground — emphasizing their intensity and violence.

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✔ 3. The shadows of clouds charge down the street like horses.

- This is an example of... → simile
*(Uses "like")*

- What two things are being compared?
→ The shadows of clouds are being compared to horses.

> 💡 Explanation: The movement of cloud shadows across the street is likened to galloping horses — suggesting speed, power, and motion.

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✔ 4. My soul is a piece of paper scorched with fragments of an incomplete song.

- This is an example of... → metaphor
*(Uses "is" to equate soul to a piece of paper)*

- What two things are being compared?
→ My soul is being compared to a piece of paper scorched with fragments of an incomplete song.

> 💡 Explanation: This metaphor suggests the speaker’s inner self (soul) is damaged, fragile, and marked by unresolved emotions or memories — like burned paper with broken musical notes.

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✔ 5. Her life was like a softly rushing stream.

- This is an example of... → simile
*(Uses "like")*

- What two things are being compared?
→ Her life is being compared to a softly rushing stream.

> 💡 Explanation: The gentle, continuous flow of the stream reflects the calm, steady, peaceful nature of her life.

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✔ Final Answers Summary:

| Number | Sentence | Type | Comparison |
|-------|---------|------|------------|
| 1 | The coins gleam like cold snake scales. | Simile | Coins' gleam ↔ Cold snake scales |
| 2 | Swords of rain stabbed the earth. | Metaphor | Rain ↔ Swords |
| 3 | The shadows of clouds charge down the street like horses. | Simile | Cloud shadows ↔ Horses |
| 4 | My soul is a piece of paper scorched with fragments of an incomplete song. | Metaphor | Soul ↔ Scorched paper with song fragments |
| 5 | Her life was like a softly rushing stream. | Simile | Life ↔ Softly rushing stream |

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✔ All answers have been corrected and clearly explained based on literary definitions. Let me know if you'd like this formatted for printing or classroom use!