4th Grade Similes and Metaphors Worksheets
Similes and metaphors both compare two unlike things to paint a picture. A simile signals the comparison with like or as (slept like a log); a metaphor skips the signal and states it outright (homework is a mountain). Fourth graders sort figurative phrases by which tool they use.
Free printable PDF, aligned to Common Core L.4.5.a. One skill per page, answer key on page two.
Every sheet is one of a kind and prints with a version code, so you can reprint the exact same one later. New version every click.
The kind of words you'll sort
Write each phrase from the bank under Simile or Metaphor.
as hard as a rockthe fog was a gray blanketlaughter is medicinetime is a thiefas cold as iceeats like a birdthe city is a jungleas busy as a bee
Columns: Simile and Metaphor. "as busy as a bee" belongs under simile; "the fog was a gray blanket" belongs under metaphor.
Every print draws a fresh mix of word lists at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different sheet.
What's on each sheet
- Sorting. Write each phrase from the bank under Simile or Metaphor. 14 words per page.
Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.
How to teach this
Teach the mechanical test first: hunt for like or as. Then make sure the idea behind it lands by asking what the two things have in common. A student who can say why a fog is like a blanket owns the figure; a student who only circles the word as owns a trick.
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 similes and metaphors
- What's the quick test for simile versus metaphor?
- Look for like or as. If the comparison uses either word, it's a simile; if it flat-out says one thing is another, it's a metaphor. The test takes two seconds and works on nearly every example a 4th grader will meet.
- Does every sentence with "like" contain a simile?
- No, and it's a favorite trick question. "I like pancakes" uses like as a verb, not a comparison. A simile needs two unlike things being compared: "flat as a pancake" qualifies; simply liking pancakes does not.
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Aligned to Common Core L.4.5.a. Reviewed by the One More Sheet curriculum team. Content version 68, updated July 2026.