Practice Similes and Metaphors
Practice identifying and understanding similes and metaphors with interactive quizzes that offer instant feedback. Strengthen reading comprehension and decode figurative language in just a few minutes of daily practice.
Choose your level
Same skill, different difficulty. Start where it feels right — you can switch any time.
Grade level quizzes
10 questions · Multiple choice
10 questions · Multiple choice
10 questions · Multiple choice
10 questions · Multiple choice
10 questions · Multiple choice
Similes and metaphors are tools writers use to paint pictures in your mind by comparing two different things. A simile compares things using the words 'like' or 'as,' such as saying someone is 'as brave as a lion.' A metaphor makes the comparison directly without using 'like' or 'as,' like saying 'the classroom was a zoo.' Spotting these comparisons helps you understand the deeper meaning of what you read.
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The same skill with easier or harder sentences.
Printable similes and metaphors worksheets
Every Similes and metaphors quiz on this page also downloads as a free printable worksheet with a PDF answer key — great for homework, review, or the classroom. Sign in and use the print button on any quiz, or download a whole Grade 6 vocabulary workbook at once with Pro.
Read something at this level
Grade 6 reading passages to enjoy alongside vocabulary practice — each one comes with comprehension questions and a quiz.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between a simile and a metaphor?
Why are sixth graders reviewing similes and metaphors if they learned them in fourth grade?
How do these quizzes help my student improve?
What is a common mistake kids make when learning these comparisons?
Why Figurative Language Matters in 6th grade
By the sixth grade, students encounter increasingly complex texts where authors rely heavily on figurative language to convey tone, mood, and deeper meaning. Reviewing similes and metaphors—which students first learned in fourth grade—ensures they do not take these descriptive phrases literally. When a student can distinguish between a simile ('slept like a log') and a metaphor ('time is a thief'), they unlock a richer understanding of narrative texts and improve their own creative writing skills.
Tips for Supporting Young Readers
To reinforce these skills at home or in the classroom, try these simple strategies:
- Real-world hunts: Encourage kids to spot comparisons in their favorite songs, books, or everyday conversations.
- Rewrite the comparison: Have students turn a simile into a metaphor (e.g., changing 'she is as fast as lightning' to 'she is lightning').
- Visualize the literal: Ask them to draw what a literal interpretation of a metaphor would look like to highlight why the author chose a comparison instead.
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