Pun mechanisms
How a single pivot works — sounds-alike, same-spelling, a literalized idiom.
Homophonic pun Sounds alike Two words that sound the same — "soul" / "sole", "tuna" / "tune a". 42 puns Homographic / homonymic pun Same word, two meanings One spelling carrying two senses — "lost interest" at a bank, "lost focus" at the optometrist. 58 puns Literalized-idiom pun Idiom taken literally A figure of speech read at face value — "had a blast" on the bomb squad. 29 puns Portmanteau / blend Two words fused Two words mashed into one — "shellfish" (selfish + shellfish). 3 puns Spoonerism Swapped sounds Initial sounds traded — "a well-boiled icicle" for "a well-oiled bicycle". 0 puns Mondegreen Mishearing A phrase misheard into a new meaning. 0 puns Visual pun Picture-based Wordplay that depends on an image. Rare here, but the slot is reserved. 0 puns