3rd grade similes and metaphors worksheets

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A simile compares two different things with the word like or as: the puppy ran like a cheetah. A metaphor makes the comparison without those words. It says one thing is another: my sister is a tornado. On the 3rd grade sheet, children read short phrases and write each one under Simile or Metaphor.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.3.5.a.

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The kind of phrases you'll sort

Write each phrase from the bank under Simile or Metaphor.

the snowman’s head was as round as a ballmy baby brother is a bouncy ballthe dark hallway was a cavethe bubbles were shiny marblesmy cat purrs like a little motoras sour as a lemonher sneakers were race carsas hungry as a bear

Columns: Simile and Metaphor. "my cat purrs like a little motor" belongs under simile; "her sneakers were race cars" belongs under metaphor.

Every print pulls a new set of phrases at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 3rd grade sheet

3rd grade sheets draw from 72 phrases, 14 to a page. None of these phrases are on 4th grade sheets.

Some of the words:

as sticky as gluethe crowd roared like a lionmy cousin climbs like a monkeythe pool was as cold as a freezerthe clouds looked like cotton candythe kids were as busy as antsmy blanket fort is a castlethe stars were tiny diamondsthe tall trees were skyscrapersmy brother’s room is a jungle

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Start with the clue words. Before your child decides, have them point to like or as in the phrase, or say out loud that neither word is there. Then talk about meaning, which is the bigger 3rd grade goal. Most of these phrases aren't meant word for word. Ask "Is my sister really a tornado?" and then "How are they the same?" A child who says "they both spin and zoom around" understands the comparison. If a phrase stumps them, draw it together. To finish, have your child make up one simile and one metaphor about your kitchen.

Watch for: Like or as is the tell for a simile, but the words must build a comparison; 'I like pizza' isn't one. A metaphor isn't a lie; nobody thinks the room is literally a zoo. It's a picture painted with a claim.

Common questions about 3rd grade similes and metaphors

What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor in 3rd grade?
A simile uses like or as to compare two things, and a metaphor does not. "Her cheeks were as pink as roses" is a simile. "Her cheeks were roses" is a metaphor. Both say her cheeks were pink, in two different ways.
Does every phrase with the word like have a simile in it?
No. In "I like apples," like means enjoy, so nothing is being compared. A simile puts two different things side by side, as in "she swims like a seal." Every like and every as on this sheet is a comparison.
Which standard does this sheet practice?
It supports CCSS L.3.5.a, telling a phrase's literal meaning from its nonliteral one. Sorting similes from metaphors is a first step. Ask your child what each phrase really means to practice the rest.

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Aligned to Common Core L.3.5.a. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

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