Here's a breakdown:
Puns are a play on words, but not just on similar sounds:
* Homophones: Puns *can* use words that sound the same but have different meanings (like "see" and "sea"). This is called a homophone.
* Homographs: Puns can also use words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and sometimes different pronunciations (like "bow" as in a gift and "bow" as in bending over). This is called a homograph.
* Similar Meaning: Puns can also play on words with similar meanings, even if the sounds are different. This can be subtle and relies on the listener understanding the different connotations of the words.
In short, puns are a form of wordplay that relies on multiple meanings of words or similar-sounding words to create humor or a surprising effect. They can be based on:
* Similar sounds (homophones)
* Similar spelling (homographs)
* Similar meaning (even with different sounds)
Let me know if you want to explore some examples!