Homonyms and Homophones

Puns

Puns, jokes and word play

PunshomonymsWords having the same spelling and pronunciation but with 2 or more meaningse.g. well

homophonesWords having the same pronunciation but different meanings or spellinge.g., new and knew

What is a homonym?

homonymsWords having the same spelling and pronunciation but with 2 or more meaningse.g. wellThey are used to make puns in many jokes

Look at the picture. What is the homonym?

fan

What is the homonym?

Why did the teacher wear sunglasses?

Because his students were so bright

bright

Why did the teacher wear sunglasses?

Because his students were so bright

What is the homonym?

Why do cows have bells?Because their horns don’t work.

horns

Why do cows have bells?Because their horns don’t work.

What is the homonym?

Why can't a car play football?Because it's only got one boot

boot

Why can't a car play football?Because it's only got one boot

What is the homonym?

Time flies like an arrowFruit flies like a banana

flies, like

Time flies like an arrowFruit flies like a banana

What is the homonym?One day an English grammar teacher was looking ill. A student asked, "What's the matter?""Tense," answered the teacher, describing how he felt.

The student paused, then continued, "What was the matter? What has been the matter? What might have been the matter... ?"

tenseOne day an English grammar teacher was looking ill. A student asked, "What's the matter?""Tense," answered the teacher, describing how he felt.

The student paused, then continued, "What was the matter? What has been the matter? What might have been the matter... ?"

What is the homonym?

A woman was driving in her car on a narrow road. She was knitting at the same time, so she was driving very slowly.A man came up from behind and he wanted to pass her. He opened the window and yelled, "Pull over! Pull over!"The lady yelled back, "No, a sweater!"

Pull over

A woman was driving in her car on a narrow road. She was knitting at the same time, so she was driving very slowly.A man came up from behind and he wanted to pass her. He opened the window and yelled, "Pull over! Pull over!"The lady yelled back, "No, a sweater!"

What is the pun?

dig up (phrasal verb)

What is the pun?1

2

3

4

put down (phrasal verb)1

2

3

4

Homophones

HomophonesWords having the same pronunciation but different meanings or spellinge.g., new and knewThey are used to make puns in many jokes

What are the homophones which make the puns in the following photos? >

What is the homophone?

Toad = Towed

What is the homophone?

i = eye

What is the homophone?

Horse = Hoarse

What is the homophone?

Bored = board

What is the homophone?

Sole = Soul

What is the homophone?

Paws = pause

What is the homophone?

A salt = Assault

What is the pun?

A tack = Attack

What is the pun?

Intense = In tents

What is the pun?

Why will you never starve in the desert?

Because of all the sandwiches there

sandwiches = sand which is

Why will you never starve in the desert?

Because of all the sandwiches there

Why does a milking stool have only three legs?Because the cow has the udder.

Bad pun – almost a homophone

Warning! Really bad joke!

Bad pun – almost a homophone

Why does a milking stool have only three legs?Because the cow has the udder.

The udderThe other

Warning! Really bad joke!

More bad puns

Udder = otherComb hair = come herePoultry in motion = poetry in motionDarth Vader = waiterIrrelevant = irrelephantMatters = mattress

More bad puns

Find the puns. Are they homonyms or homophones?

1. It’s not that he didn’t know how to juggle. He just didn’t have the balls to do it.

2. What do you call a woman who stands between two goal posts? Annette. 3. A bicycle can’t stand on its own. It’s two-tired.4. Police were called to a kindergarten where a three-year-old was resisting a

rest. 5. A pessimist's blood type is b-negative. 6. I used to be addicted to soap, but I'm clean now. 7. The apple crossed the street because he wanted to get to the other cider the

road. 8. In some conifer forests, you can't cedar wood for the trees. 9. A prisoner's favourite punctuation mark is the period (USA) / full stop (UK). It

marks the end of his sentence. 10.What do you get if you cross a sheep with a kangaroo? A woolly jumper

Find the puns. Are they homonyms or homophones?

1. It’s not that he didn’t know how to juggle. He just didn’t have the balls to do it. (Have balls = be brave)

2. What do you call a woman who stands between two goal posts? Annette. (= a net)

3. A bicycle can’t stand on its own. It’s two-tired. (= too)4. Police were called to a kindergarten where a three-year-old was resisting a

rest. (= arrest)5. A pessimist's blood type is b-negative. (= be)6. I used to be addicted to soap, but I'm clean now. (clean = no longer addicted)7. The apple crossed the street because he wanted to get to the other cider the

road. (= side o(f) )8. In some conifer forests, you can't cedar wood for the trees. (= see the)9. A prisoner's favourite punctuation mark is the period (USA) / full stop (UK). It

marks the end of his sentence. (sentence = time in prison)10.What do you get if you cross a sheep with a kangaroo? A woolly jumper (=

jersey)

The end

More homophoneshttp://www.bifroest.demon.co.uk/misc/homophones.html

More punshttp://www.sillypuns.com/

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