Examples Of Puns

Puns work in different ways, some need to be spelled out and others make sense when spoken aloud. Theater kids use them in scripts whereas dry comedians deliver them with a straight face. Even advertisers sneak them into slogans. Whether it’s a windmill business failing with a dramatic “Well, we really blew it this time!” or a cheesy taco joke at dinner, puns keep conversations lively.

Here we’ll break down different types of puns, from homophones to double entendres, and share some of the best (and worst) examples. Get ready to roll your eyes, chuckle, or maybe even steal a few for yourself.

What Are Puns? See Different Types of Puns and Funny Examples

Puns, also called paronomasia, are a clever form of wordplay. It’s a play on words that creates humor or a twist by using words with multiple meanings or similar sounds. A clear definition of a pun would be:

Puns require a mixture of recognizing double meanings creatively with some sort of logic. They’re used in jokes, literature, advertising, and everyday speech to add wit or make statements more memorable. Some people love them, while others roll their eyes at them, regardless they are associated with humor and wit. 

Types Of Puns With Examples

There are various types of puns, and some would argue a “steak pun is a rare medium well done”. (We’re kidding, of course, that’s just a pun about steak!) Below are eight actual types of puns, each with unique wordplay techniques. The first four are the main types, and the others are techniques used in puns.

1. Homophonic Puns

These puns rely on homophones, words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. The humor comes from playing with the double meaning. 

Examples:

Tip! To create your pun, find words that sound the same but have different meanings (e.g., sole and soul).

2. Homographic Puns

These puns use homographs, words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. They work best in writing since pronunciation can affect how they’re understood.

Examples:

3. Homonymic Puns

These involve words that are both homophones and homographs, they sound the same, and are spelled the same, but have different meanings.

Examples:

Tip! Find words with multiple meanings, like a bat (animal or sports equipment).

4. Compound Puns

These involve multiple puns in a single sentence, making them even more layered and smart. They can mix homophonic, homographic, or visual elements.

Examples:

Tip! Alter common phrases to create your pun, like “reading between the wines” for a book club at a winery.

5. Visual Puns

These use images, logos, or signs to create humor through wordplay. They often pair a picture with a witty caption.

Examples:

6. Tom Swifties

These puns pair a witty adverb with a quote, making the adverb part of the joke. Tom Swifties never gets old! 

Examples:

7. Double Entendre

These puns have two meanings, often with one being suggestive or unexpected. They are popular in humor, marketing, and entertainment.

Examples:

150+ Best Examples That Prove Puns Are a Play on Words

Here are some funny puns examples that’ll make you think twice! Double-check the spelling, read them aloud, and sound them out, you’ll catch the wit hidden in the wordplay.

Corny One-Liner Pun Examples That Are Painfully Funny

1. Did you hear about the boat that got a new job? It’s in sails.

2. A clown held the door open for me. What a nice jester!

3. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.

4. Did you hear about the trending corduroy pillows? They’re making headlines.

5. Dogs can’t operate MRI machines, but catscan.

6. One bird cannot make a pun. But toucan.

7. What’s a pirate’s favorite letter? You’d think it’s the “R,” but it’s really the “C.”

8. I got rid of my vacuum cleaner. It was just gathering dust.

9. I went to buy a dead battery and the clerk said, “No charge.”

10. How do you make an eggroll? Just give it a little push.

11. What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus.

12. My friend drove his expensive car into a tree and found out how his Mercedes bends.

13. Somebody stole all my lamps. I couldn’t be more de-lighted!

14. My friend’s bakery burned down last night. Now, his business is toast.

15. I was wondering why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

16. The machine at the coin factory just suddenly stopped working, with no explanation. It doesn’t make any cents.

17. The past, the present, and the future walk into a bar. It was tense!

18. She had a photographic memory, but never developed it.

19. I had a crazy dream last night! I was swimming in an ocean of orange soda. Turns out it was just a Fanta sea.

20. I don’t trust trees. They’re shady.

Geeky Pun Examples For True Nerds

1. Geology rocks, but Geography is where it’s at!

2. Why should you wear glasses when doing math? They improve division.

3. Did you hear about the restaurant on the Moon? I heard the food was good, but it had no atmosphere.

4. His theory on inertia never seemed to gain momentum.

5. Jill broke her finger today. On the other hand, she was completely fine.

6. I love math. And then sum.

7. People who don’t know the difference between entomology and etymology bug me in ways I cannot put into words.

8. What do you call a lawyer who can cook? A sue chef.

9. What do you do when you find Niacin and Thiamin at your front door? You vitamin, of course!

10. A bottle of Omega 3 Fatty Acids fell on my head yesterday at the store. Don’t worry, I only got super fish oil injuries.

11. The roles of ‘nature’ vs. ‘nurture’ is an ongoing debate in the psychological field. But one’s preference for taking an elevator over an escalator is surely a difference in upbringing.

12. I’m reading a book on reverse psychology. It’s a total mind-bender.

13. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm, and says: “A beer please, and one for the road.”

14. Did you hear that Magnesium formed an oxide layer? OMg!

15. Are plants good at math? Only if they have square roots.

16. I wanted to improve my computer’s website. So, I bought it glasses.

17. Why did the football player hire a lawyer? He needed to work on his defense.

18. What should a lawyer always wear to a court? A good lawsuit!

19. Apple is designing a new automatic car. But they’re having trouble installing Windows!

20. I was going to tell a sodium joke, but then I thought, “Na.”

21. If you see an Apple Store get robbed, does that make you an iWitness?

22. Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!

23. Getting the ability to fly would be so uplifting.

24. It’s hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally.

25. England doesn’t have a kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

26. I wasn’t originally going to get a brain transplant, but then I changed my mind.

27. What do you get when you mix alcohol and literature? Tequila mockingbird.

28. How do you measure the quality of my puns? A seismograph!

29. If loving-kindness changes your life, is that metamorphosis?

30. A termite walks into the bar. He sits down and asks “Hey, is the bartender?”

31. Never discuss infinity with a mathematician; they can go on about it forever.

32. What happens to Nitrogen when the sun rises? It becomes Daytrogen.

33. A chemist walked into a couch store and ended up buying a photon.

34. Why should you stay away from artists? They’re sketchy.

35. You really shouldn’t be intimidated by advanced math…it’s as easy as pi!

36. Why don’t chemists like puns? All the best ones argon.

37. I really don’t like computer jokes. Not one bit.

38. What’s the body temperature of a Tauntaun? Luke warm.

39. Always be kind to dentists. They have fillings, too, you know.

40. Trigonometry is so confusing. I wish I understood sine language.

Famous Pun Examples from Books, Movies, and More

1. “First, we need to acknowledge the elephant in the room” (Zootopia)

2. “I always told you, Gwendolen, my name was Ernest, didn’t I? Well, it is Ernest after all. I mean it naturally is Ernest.” (‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Oscar Wilde)

3. “No, ’tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.” (‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare)

4. Why did Adele cross the road? To say hello from the other side.

5. What kind of concert only costs 45 cents? A 50 Cent concert featuring Nickelback.

6. What was Forrest Gump’s email password? 1forrest1 [The popular saying for the movie Forest Gump is “run Forest run” and 1 (one) sounds a lot like run. so 1forrest1 sounds similar to run Forrest run.]

7. What’s the difference between Batman and a shoplifter? Batman can go into a store without Robin.

8. Why does Waldo (from Where’s Waldo) always wear a striped shirt? He doesn’t want to be spotted.

9. How do you find Will Smith in a snowstorm? You look for Fresh Prints.

10. Did you hear that Snoop Dogg brought an umbrella to an outdoor concert? Yeah, for drizzle.

11. Did you hear about all the hidden meanings in The Lion King? Yeah, it’s full of Simbalism.

12. What does King Arthur use to see in the dark? Knight lights.

13. I’m happy Ford didn’t invent the airplane. It wouldn’t have been Wright.

14. Who invented King Arthur’s Round Table? Sir Cumference.

Morbidly Funny Pun Examples for Those Who Like It Dark

1. There was a kidnapping at school yesterday. Don’t worry, though—he woke up!

2. I hate how funerals are always at 9 a.m. I’m not really a mourning person.

3. What do you call a man with no arms and no legs stuffed in your mailbox? Bill.

4. How did the picture end up in jail? It was framed!

5. Did you hear about the casino restaurant that feeds its cows cannabis? Yeah, some gamblers prefer high steaks.

6. A Freudian slip is when you say one thing, but you mean your mother.

7. Did you hear about the machine that electronically castrates bulls? Yeah, these days, nobody buys a farm without power steering.

8. “I’m high as f***,” Tom explained bluntly.

9. What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One is really heavy, and the other is a little lighter!

10. My ex-wife still misses me. But her aim is starting to improve!

11. Did you hear about the cannibal social? Yeah, they really like to meat new people.

12. Did you hear about the guy who pickpocketed a dwarf? How could anybody stoop so low?!

13. Did you hear the police found a misspelled message written in blood? Yeah, they suspect it was a type-o.

14. Did you hear about the guy who jumped off a Paris bridge? He was in Seine.

15. What do you call a book on Voyeurism? A Peeping Tome.

16. Fiction always talks about the drama and mystery surrounding a departed relative’s will. But most of the time, it’s a dead giveaway.

17. I was going to tell a joke about a dead parrot, but it was way too Macawbre.

18. Did you hear about the World War I soldier who survived both pepper spray and mustard gas? He was a seasoned veteran.

19. I changed my phone’s name to Titanic. It’s syncing now.

20. Why aren’t depressed people worried about flat tires? They’re always carrying despair.

14. Did you hear about the guy who jumped off a Paris bridge? He was in the Seine.

Global Pun Examples That Cross Borders and Calendars

1. Can February March? No, but April May.

2. I can’t believe I got fired from the calendar factory. All I did was take a day off!

3. What does a clock do when it’s hungry? It goes back for seconds.

4. Why do teenage girls travel in odd-numbered groups? Because they just can’t even.

5. I stayed up all night to see where the sun went. Then it dawned on me.

6. To the guy who invented zero, thanks for nothing.

7. I’m a great friend with 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know Y.

8. How does Moses make coffee? Hebrews it.

9. What do French people call a terrible Thursday? A Trajeudi.

10. I’m so glad that I learned sign language. It’s really handy.

11. How do Greek people navigate their way to lunch? Using a Gyros-scope!

12. Why do people love Switzerland? Well, the flag is a big plus. Unlike Canada’s, which I could take or leaf.

13. What language do bridges speak? Span-ish.

14. Why do Buddhist monks avoid sending Word documents? They’re supposed to avoid attachments.

15. Why did the patron at the Indian restaurant ask so many questions about the menu? He was just curry-ous.

16. What do Russian kings order on their pizzas? Czardines.

17. Did you hear about the wealthy Muslim leader who was extorted for millions of dollars by a local organized crime group? It wasn’t that interesting, really. Just your classic mafia Sheik-down.

18. A Mexican magician told his audience he would disappear on the count of three. He wrapped his cape around himself and counted. “Uno… Dos…” and then disappeared without a Tres.

19. Why did the owner of a gentlemanly goose move to North Korea? He heard it was a great place for his propaganda.

Pun Examples About Food

1. What did the ranch say when somebody opened the refrigerator? “Hey, close the door! I’m dressing!”

2. What did the bread say to the baker? “You knead me.”

3. What did the grape say when it got crushed? Nothing, it just let out a little wine.

4. Ladies, if he can’t appreciate your fruit jokes, you need to let that mango.

5. What did the sushi say to the bee? Wasabee!

6. Did you hear about the guy who got hit in the head with a can of soda? He was lucky it was a soft drink!

7. What do you call fake noodles? Impastas.

8. Why do I love cheese? For starters, it’s pretty grate.

9. Why are bananas so good? They’ve got appeal.

10. When does bread go bad? When you yeast expect it.

11. Why was the cookie sad? Because his mom was a wafer long! [away for long!)

12. Why is bread so lazy? It’s always loafin’ around.

13. I drink beer when I’m sick. It cures all my ale-ments.

14. Why didn’t the tea go up the hill? It was too steep.

15. What’s the best way to make a “hotdog stand”? Take away its chair.

16. I went out for an expensive Italian meal. It cost a pretty penne.

17. Did you hear about the pasta that went to a dermatologist? It had a big ziti.

18. Why couldn’t the pasta unlock the door? Gnocchi.

19. What did one dessert say to the other? “I’m your biggest flan.”

20. I was going to tell you a pizza joke, but it’s too cheesy.

Pun Examples About Animals

1. What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator.

2. What do you call the ghost of a chicken? A poultry-geist.

3. Who is the penguin’s favorite Aunt? Aunt-Arctica!

4. A crazy wife says to her husband that moose are falling from the sky. The husband says it’s reindeer.

5. What do you call it when a cat wins first place at a dog show? A cat-has-trophy!

6. I went to a zoo the other day, but there was only one dog there. It was a Shitzu.

7. Some aquatic mammals at the zoo escaped. It was otter chaos!

8. Why can’t you trust jungle animals? Because they’re always lion.

9. How do make an octopus laugh? Give it ten-tickles.

10. A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says, “Why the long face?”

11. Two kittens had an argument. It was a cat-astrophe.

12. How can you tell when a cat is happy? When it’s feline fine.

13. Did you hear about the matching cows? It was an udder cow-incidence.

14. What did the duck say when waiter gave him the check? “Put it on my bill.”

15. What did the horse say after tripping in a pothole? “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t giddy up.”

16. Why did the rabbit skip school? It was having a bad hare day.

17. What kind of animal shouldn’t you give as a gift? I’m not sure, but, personally, I don’t give a fox.

18. A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says, “Hey.” The horse says, “You read my mind.”

19. Where can you find a whale that plays the flute? In an orca-stra.

20. Did you hear about the dog that had a bad day at work? It was ruff.

21. I once asked an alpaca for a favor. It was no prob-llama.

22. What’s a zebra? A few sizes bigger than an A.

23. What do cows do on date night? Go to the moo-vies.

24. Why couldn’t the pony sing in the choir? He was a little horse.

Final words 

To conclude, “We did a theatrical performance about puns. It was really just a play on words.” That sentence itself? Pretty much the whole pun concept summed up. If you insist on adding puns to your writing, remember timing, delivery, and spelling actually matter. Puns are just a way to show off what words can do, so don’t let your writing just sit there being bland. People find wit tolerable, so maybe add a pun. Or, you know, don’t. Either way, maybe your writing will finally become, “That’s what she said..”

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