Analogies
An analogy compares two pairs of
words that are related in the same way.
shovel : dig :: pencil : write
This is an analogy because shovel
and dig go together in the same way
that pencil and write go together.
HOW TO READ THIS ANALOGY
“Shovel is to dig as pencil is to write.”
or
“Shovel goes with dig like pencil goes with write.”
Types of analogies
There are many types of analogies.
Some of the types are:
Synonyms, Source/Product
Antonyms, Part/Whole
Object/Action, Animal Habitat
NOTE: Possible solutions are provided for the
exercises, but there are also other correct
solutions to many of the analogies.
find : discover :: begin : start
Find and discover go together because
they both mean the same thing. They
are synonyms. Begin and start also go
together because they are synonyms.
SYNONYMS
right : correct :: under: _____
Complete this analogy.
Explain why your answer is correct.
right : correct :: under: below
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serious : funny :: huge : tiny
Serious and funny go together because
their meanings are opposite. They are
antonyms. Huge and tiny also go
together because they are antonyms.
ANTONYMS
new : old :: narrow: _____
Complete this analogy.
Explain why your answer is correct.
new : old :: narrow: wide
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Solve these analogies by adding antonyms.
1. open : close :: up :_____
2. correct : mistaken :: dangerous : _____
3.graceful : clumsy :: gentle :_____
4.fiction : non-fiction :: toxic : _____
5.credit : debit :: positive : _____
Solutions
open : close :: up : down
correct : mistaken :: dangerous : safe
graceful : clumsy :: gentle : harsh
fiction : non-fiction :: toxic : non-toxic
credit : debit :: positive : negative
scissors : cut :: eraser :erase
Scissors and cut go together because
scissors is an object and cut is its
action. Eraser and erase also go
together because they are an object
and its action.
OBJECT/ACTION
eye : see:: nose : _____
Complete this analogy.
Explain why your answer is correct.
eye : see :: nose : smell
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Solve these analogies by adding an action
word.
1. ear : hear :: hand : _____
2. rooster : crow :: lion : _____
3. clock : tick :: bell : _____
4.boat : float :: airplane : ____
5.broom : sweep :: shovel : ____
Well and water go together because a
well is a source where water is found.
Beach and sand go together in the
same way because a beach is a source
where sand is found.
SOURCE/PRODUCT
well : water :: beach : sand
tree : lumber :: quarry : ____
Complete this analogy.
Explain why your answer is correct.
tree : lumber :: quarry : stone
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Solve these analogies by adding a
product from each of the sources listed.
1.field : corn :: pond : ____
2.mine : diamonds :: oyster shells : ____
3.sheep : wool :: silkworm : ____
4.palm tree : coconuts :: maple tree : ____
5. paddy : rice :: bog : ____
Solutions
1. field : corn :: pond : fish
2. mine : diamonds :: oyster shells : pearls
3. sheep : wool :: silkworm : silk
4. palm tree : coconuts :: maple tree : syrup
5. paddy : rice :: bog : cranberries
toe : foot :: finger : hand
Toe and foot go together because a toe
is part of a foot. Finger and hand also
go together because a finger is part of
a hand.
PART/WHOLE
room : house :: chapter: ____
Complete this analogy.
Explain why your answer is correct.
room : house :: chapter: book
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Solve these analogies by adding a whole that
goes with the part.
1. steering wheel : automobile :: wing : ____
2.branch : tree :: boxcar : ____
3.kernel : corn :: grain : ____
4.leg : chair :: handle : ____
5. word : sentence :: letter : ____
Solutions
1. steering wheel : automobile :: wing : airplane
2. branch : tree :: boxcar : train
3. kernel : corn :: grain : wheat
4. leg : chair :: handle : cup
5. word : sentence :: letter : word
spider : web :: bird : nest
Spider and web go together because a
spider is an animal and a web is its
habitat. Bird and nest also go together
because a bird is an animal and a nest
is its habitat.
ANIMAL/HABITAT
bat : cave :: bear : ____
Complete this analogy.
Explain why your answer is correct.
bat : cave :: bear : den
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Solve these analogies by adding a habitat.
1. ant : hill :: bee : ____
2. cattle : barn :: chicken : ____
3. pig : sty :: horse : ____
4. giraffe : grasslands :: polar bear : ____
5. toucan : rain forest :: bald eagle : ____
Sort these pairs of words into the three
categories below.
AntonymsSynonyms Object/Action
sun : shine clock : tick laugh : cry
pen : write give : receive right : correct
transparent : opaque divide :
multiply ambulance : rescue liquid : fluid
shout : scream
Sort these pairs of words into the three
categories below.
Part/WholeSource/Product Animal/Habitat
dime : dollar bead : necklace eagle : forest
tree : walnuts stream : gold
nuggets horse : stable whale : ocean
key : piano toe : foot bees : honey
student : class
Solution
Part/WholeSource/Product Animal/Habitat
tree : walnuts
stream : gold nuggets
bees : honey
dime : dollar
bead : necklace
key : piano
toe : foot
student : class
eagle : forest
horse : stable
whale : ocean
Solve these analogies.
Then, tell which type of analogy each one is:
synonym, antonym, or object/action.
1. hand : touch :: eye : ____
2. car : automobile :: ship : ____
3. work : labor :: incinerate : ____
4. failure : success :: mistaken : ____
5. world : earth :: teacher : ____
Solutions
hand : touch :: eye : see
OBJECT/ACTION
car : automobile :: ship : boat
SYNONYMS
work : labor :: incinerate : burn
SYNONYMS
failure : success :: mistaken : correct
ANYONYMS
world : earth :: teacher : instructor
SYNONYMS
Solve these analogies.
Then tell which type of analogy each one is:
source/product, part/whole, or animal/habitat.
1.garden : tomatoes :: ocean : ____
2.blade : ice skate :: wheel : ____
3.button : shirt :: latch : ____
4.Camel : desert :: crocodile : ____
5.McDonald’s : hamburger :: Chick-fil-A : ____