Puns with Homophones and Homographs

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling

• Explain that this type of joke is called a pun because it uses multiple meanings of a word for a humorous effect. Many puns use homophones or homographs to give a statement double meaning.
• Remind students that homophones are words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings (like "pear" and "pair"). Homographs are words that are spelled the same, but have different meanings (like "bat").
• Divide a piece of chart paper into two columns. Label one column "homophones" and the other "homographs."
• With the class, generate a list of homophones and homographs to write in each column.

Guided Practice

• Use a homophone from the student-generated list to model a pun (e.g., "This bread recipe is a family secret. I can only share it on a knead-to-know basis.")
• Explain that this joke is a pun because the homophone "knead" gives the joke double meaning.
• Display one copy of the Puns with Homophones #1 worksheet and work through it with the class.
• Then, give students a few minutes to work with a partner and come up with an answer for the "try it" question (write a pun with a homophone for "hair").
• Model a pun with a homograph from the list (e.g., "Why did the teacher wear sunglasses? Because his students were so bright!").
• Explain that this joke is a pun because the word "bright" can mean smart or shiny.
• Hand out the Puns with Homographs worksheet and complete the first two puns with the class.
• Then, have students complete the rest of the worksheet with a partner.

Independent working time

• Hand out the Puns with Homophones #2 worksheet and instruct students to complete it independently.
• Circulate and offer support as needed.