Module 7 Worksheet: Wordplay & Ambiguity

A short worksheet to consolidate Module 7.

Notice

  • Complete each item, then check your answer underneath.

Rule

Mixed review: puns, deliberate ambiguity, and humour devices.

Practice

  1. 1) What makes a sentence a pun?
    Answer: It uses a word or phrase with two valid meanings (or similar-sounding words) so it makes sense both ways at once.
  2. 2) Explain the double meaning in “I saw her duck.”
    Answer: “Duck” could mean the bird (noun) or the act of lowering the head quickly (verb).
  3. 3) Is ambiguity always a mistake in writing?
    Answer: No — it is a flaw in formal/technical writing but can be a deliberate, effective device in headlines, jokes, and advertising.
  4. 4) What is self-deprecating humour?
    Answer: Humour where the speaker jokes about their own flaws or mistakes.
  5. 5) What is deadpan delivery?
    Answer: Saying something funny or absurd in a completely flat, serious tone.

Connect

Practise identifying wordplay and ambiguity in similar sentences with Error Correction.

Try Error Correction →

CEFR: C2

Azizul Hakim
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