paronomasia
noun

- a play on words: pun

- the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound to achieve a specific effect, as humor or a dual meaning; punning

- humorous use of a word or phrase which has several meanings or which sounds like another word

Dictionary dot com / Merriam-Webster /  Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

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ORIGIN

In Greek, “paronomasia” means “play upon similar-sounding words” - para: beside, onoma: name. 

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OUCH!

The best way to explain paronomasia is to provide a few examples. But be warned! Some puns are so bad they make you want to cry “Ouch!”

- I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.

- Did you hear about the electrician who drives a volts wagon?

- A German walks into a bar and asks for a martini. The bartender asks, “Dry?” The German replies, “Nein, just one.”

- How do mathematicians scold their children? “If I’ve told you n times, I’ve told you n+1 times…”

- A photon is going through airport security. The TSA agent asks if he has any luggage. The photon says, “No, I’m traveling light.”

- A sign at a music shop: “Gone Chopin. Bach in a minuet.”

- What was Beethoven’s favourite fruit? Ba-na-na-naaaaaa!

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SYNONYMS

A joke or type of wordplay in which similar senses or sounds of two words or phrases, or different senses of the same word, are deliberately confused:

clever remark, crack, double entendre, flash of wit, funny remark, ha-ha, PARONOMASIA, play on words, pun, quip, rib-tickler, smart remark, wisecrack, witticism, witty comment, wordplay

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“Pardon the PARONOMASIA, but I’m really tired of having insomnia.”

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