| paronomasia | 
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| pa-ro-no-ma'-si-a | from Gk. para, "alongside"
and onomos, "name" ("to alter slightly in naming") prosonomasia adnominatio or agnominatio, allusio the nicknamer, allusion |
Using words that sound alike but that differ in meaning
(punning).
The Ad Herennium author further specifies that this is brought about through various kinds of metaplasm.
Examples
A jesting friar punned upon the name of the famous humanist Erasmus, "Errans mus" [erring mouse]. —PuttenhamRelated Figures Related Topics of InventionA pun is its own reword.
For a plethora of puns (of mixed quality, but plenty of quantity), see this internet pun resource.
