Playing with Words

What is a pun?

• A pun is a type of dance move

• A pun is a form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of a term, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect.

• A pun is a type of exotic fruit

• A pun is a type of mathematical equation

Identify the pun in the following sentence: I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough dough.

• I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough cookies.

• The pun is on the word 'dough'.

• I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough cake.

• I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough bread.

Explain the double meaning in the pun: Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

• The double meaning in the pun is the use of 'arrow' as a weapon and 'banana' as a fruit.

• The double meaning in the pun is the use of 'flies' as both a verb and a noun.

• The double meaning in the pun is the comparison between time and fruit.

• The double meaning in the pun is the reference to flying insects.

Identify the pun in the following sentence: I'm reading a book on anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down!

• I'm reading a book on anti-gravity. It's bringing me down!

• I'm reading a book on anti-gravity. It's making me float away!

• I'm reading a book on anti-gravity. It's so uplifting!

• The pun is in the phrase 'It's impossible to put down.'

Explain the double meaning in the pun: I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug.

• The double meaning in the pun is that the wife took 'embrace' to mean a physical hug instead of accepting her mistakes.

• The double meaning in the pun is that the wife thought 'embrace' meant to physically hold onto her mistakes

• The double meaning in the pun is that the wife took 'embrace' to mean a warm welcome instead of accepting her mistakes

• The double meaning in the pun is that the wife thought 'embrace' meant to literally hug her mistakes

Identify the pun in the following sentence: I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down!

• I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's so heavy!

• The pun is in the phrase 'impossible to put down.'

• I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's attracting all the objects around me!

• I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's making me float away!

Explain the double meaning in the pun: I used to play piano by ear, but now I use my hands.

• The double meaning in the pun is that 'playing piano by ear' can mean playing with your ears, and 'using my hands' can mean using your hands to play the piano.

• The double meaning in the pun is that 'playing piano by ear' can mean playing with your eyes closed, and 'using my hands' can mean using your hands to play the piano.

• The double meaning in the pun is that 'playing piano by ear' can mean playing without sheet music, and 'using my hands' can mean playing with sheet music.

• The double meaning in the pun is that 'playing piano by ear' can mean playing with a fake piano, and 'using my hands' can mean using your hands to play the piano.

Identify the pun in the following sentence: I'm glad I know sign language, it's pretty handy.

• The pun is the double meaning of 'handy' in the sentence.

• The pun is the use of the word 'know' in the sentence.

• The pun is the reference to 'sign language' in the sentence.

• The pun is the mention of 'glad' in the sentence.

Explain the double meaning in the pun: I'm reading a book on the history of glue. I just can't seem to put it down.

• The double meaning in the pun is that the book is about sticky situations

• The double meaning in the pun is that the book is about the invention of glue

• The double meaning in the pun is that the book is about the author's personal struggles with glue

• The double meaning in the pun is that 'put it down' can mean both physically putting the book down and also being unable to stop reading it.

Identify the pun in the following sentence: I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug.

• I told my wife she should cuddle her mistakes. She gave me a hug.

• I told my wife she should hug her mistakes. She gave me a hug.

• Embrace

• I told my wife she should squeeze her mistakes. She gave me a hug.