Which term describes 'play on words using words that are similar in sounds but have different meanings'?

• A. Sarcasm
• B. Pun
• C. Metaphor
• D. Aside

Answer: (B)

Pun is a form of wordplay that hinges on sound and meaning. It plays on words that sound alike or are the same word with multiple meanings, so the humor or twist comes from hearing a word in more than one sense. The description, “play on words using words that are similar in sounds but have different meanings,” matches this idea exactly. A classic example is: “What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.” Here the joke comes from the sound-alike relationship and the dual meanings. This device differs from sarcasm, which relies on tone to mock, from metaphor, which makes a direct comparison without relying on sound-alike words, and from an aside, which is a stage remark rather than a wordplay device.