Examples
Examples are from http://www.bydewey.com/pun.html
138. A prisoner's favorite punctuation mark is the period. It marks the end of his sentence. ~ Pun of the Day.
Pun 138: “Period” is a homograph which contributes to the humor of pun 138. Homographs are words that are spelt the same, but have different pronunciations and meanings. The ambiguity of “period” comes from its definition as a punctuation mark and the end of a prison sentence. In addition, “sentence” is a homograph meaning a term of grammatical structure and a term of punishment. In grammar, a period ends a sentence of grammatical structure. In law, a period ends a sentence of punishment. The relation coming from the ambiguity produces humor in the form of a pun, because of its multiple meanings.
139. I relish the fact that you've mustard the strength to ketchup to me. ~ Pun of the Day.
Pun 139: “Relish” is a homograph which means to enjoy or a condiment. “Mustard” is a homonym replacing mustered. “Ketchup” is a homonym replacing catch up. The humor comes from the theme of condiments used to represent action verbs with the same pronunciations creating a pun.
153. Patient: "I've hurt my arm in several places."
Doctor: "Well, don't go there anymore."
Doctor: "Well, don't go there anymore."
Pun 153: The ambiguity to the meaning of “places” creates humor. In this example, “places” is a generic noun which could refer to the locations where the person got hurt or the locations where he got hurt on his arm. According to what the patient says at first, the most logical use of the term “places” is the locations where he got hurt on his arm. Logically, it makes more sense for the patient to tell that he received injured than where he got injured for the term “places”. This pun comes from the humor created when the doctor answers to the less logical meaning of “places” as a physical position on Earth.