The following pages will teach your students about different types of analogies using word pairs.

When we want a concept to really sink in for a reader, we will often form a link between something they are familiar and something that is new to them. This is called an analogy. The use of language in this manner can often help them quickly see our point. In order to be able to create these ourselves successfully we really need to understand the audience that we are writing this for. We have to know what would best illustrate our point. Analogies are built by establishing a particular relationship between two words, then using that as an example to demonstrate the same relationship between another pair of words.

These worksheets start out simple by relating words. As we advance through the lessons, we will have our students learn to write engaging content that will resonate with their audience. We will explore new concepts that they may need to research a bit too. Using this style of writing will help you learn to communicate your message much better. We also define different types of relationships, such as part of a group, distinguishing characteristics, cause and effect, and more. Students will be presented with a word pair whose relationship must be determined in order to correctly match it with another word pair that has the same relationship. Note: Though it is tempting to say similes and metaphors are analogies, that isn’t quite correct. Similes and metaphors are more artistic comparisons, while analogies are more logical.



Get Free Worksheets In Your Inbox!


Print Analogy Worksheets

Click the buttons to print each worksheet and associated answer key.

Literature Worksheet

Literature Analogies

How are the words related to each other? Choose one of the relationships provided and write it on the line.

SAT Word Worksheet

SAT Primer

Determine the relationship between the first set of words. Then fill in the blank with a word that creates the same relationship between the second pair of words.

Best Fit Worksheet

Multiple Choice

Choose a word on the right that best expresses a relationship similar to that of the original pair.

Relationship Worksheet

Understanding Analogies Worksheet

To understand the analogy, first you need to figure out the relationship between the first pair of words. You can do this by making a sentence that relates the two words to one another.

Complete Them Worksheet

Completing Analogies

Choose the word that best completes each analogy.

Creating Your Own Worksheet

Creating Analogies

Determine the relationship between the first set of words. Then fill in the blank with a set of words that have the same relationship.

Rewriting Worksheet

Rewrites

Rewrite each analogy below so that it makes sense. Indicate what kind of analogy it is.

Part or Whole Worksheet

What Is It?

In each case, the analogy describes the relationship of a part to a whole. A student is part of a class, and a player is part of a team.

How Related Worksheet

What's the Relationship?

If you have ever played the game Tribond. This is very familiar to you.

Match Thoughts Worksheet

This Is To That As…

The main challenge to this one is explaining the relationship in your own words.

Related Worksheet

Word Relationships

Take your time with this worksheet. A few will work, but which works best.

Multiple Choice Worksheet

9 In the Mix

The key is to find the second part. You will evaluate the relationship and match it with another.

Wrong Worksheet

What's Wrong?

You will need to fix all of these sentences. Start by finding out how out of tune they may be.

Sounding Worksheet

Is it a Sound Analogy?

Explain why they do not work, and then change words as needed to make the analogy sound.

Harder Worksheet

Difficulty on High

Each question below presents a word relationship and a pair of words that is an example of that relationship.

What Are Analogies, and Why Are They Important?

Many devices in the English language are used to compare and contrast two ideas or words or depict a relationship between them. Similes, metaphors, and juxtaposition are one of these examples. However, there is another technique called analogy that not only provides a contrast between two words by showing us the similarity but explains the relationship as well very precisely.

Their Importance

Analogies instill a critical skill in a student, i.e., understanding the relationship between two entities and then deducing how the same connection can work for the other two. The actual learning is when one concept is used to derive other ideas.

The assessment technique requires extensive practice with analogies to comprehend complex relationships. It also helps students who try to increase their vocabulary by using logic to remember the words.

As for readers, it is easier to grasp a concept when they can visualize the relationship. It can only happen if they know the connection between one pair of words. Playing with words and creating links can stimulate a reader’s mind to think critically.

Analogies are so common that they are used as a figure of speech and in idioms. The word analogies consist of two pairs of words with the same relationship. The first word’s relation to the second word is the same as that for the Third word’s to the fourth.

Examples of Word Analogies

Below are some examples of good analogies that can help you understand how to create one.

1. Sunlight is to a plant as fuel is to the car.

The analogy above explains that sunlight is the source of energy and food for plants, i.e., photosynthesis, but it is shown in how fuel provides power for a car to run. In this way, a non-specialist can understand the scientific relation between sunlight and plant.

2. Crying is to pain as laughing is to happiness.

This is an emotion and reaction analogy.

3. An electron is to a molecule as a star is to the galaxy.

This is a relation between a whole and its part.

4. Reading is to learning as trying is to improve.

The above analogy depicts a relationship between doing something and getting the outcome.

5. Lemon is to yellow as charcoal is to grey.

This example shows the names of colors with their specifications.

6. Milk is to cow as sheep is to wool.

This analogy is about the producer and its produce.

7. Reducing the greenhouse effect is to climate change is as creating job opportunities is to poverty.

The example is from the classic contrast of the problem and its solution.

8. Bowl is to a dish as a sword is to a weapon.

The object and its use are highlighted in the analogy above, such as a sword being used as a weapon.

9. Floor is to a ceiling as a conclusion is to an introduction.

The spatial relationship is the comparison shown in this analogy.

10. Instability is to turmoil as a change is to a revolution.

The similarity in the two pairs is about Increasing Intensity.

11. City is to blocks as a farm is to an acre.

The above example is for Measurement Analogies.

These examples will help you learn about the true meaning of analogy and how you can tackle one in a test.