Which term refers to using a word or phrase with multiple meanings or similar sounds?

• A. Consonance
• B. Alliteration
• C. Pun
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (C)

Wordplay that hinges on multiple meanings or similar sounds. A pun takes advantage of a word having more than one meaning (polysemy) or of words that sound alike (homophones) to create humor or a twist in meaning. For example, a line like “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough” plays on dough as both bread mixture and money, producing a playful double meaning.

Consonance and alliteration involve repeating consonant sounds for musical or rhythmic effect, not for word meanings. A metaphor makes a direct, figurative comparison between two things, without relying on a word having multiple meanings or sounding like another. So the pun best fits the description because it centers on exploiting how a word can mean more than one thing or sound like another.