A Puns Worksheet Pack Perfect for 5th Grade!

I knew a duck who was a great comedian. He always quacked people up!

I tried writing with my broken pencil, but it was pointless.

The math teacher had more problems than she knew how to deal with.

Did you know these are all examples of puns? A pun is a type of wordplay that uses words with multiple meanings or similar sounds to create humor. Because of their double meanings, puns can be tricky for students to understand. Many students focus on the literal meaning only and miss the joke entirely! Learning to identify puns helps students to better understand how language can be used creatively and intentionally to achieve specific purposes.

This worksheet pack includes seven carefully crafted worksheets that introduce your students to the concept of puns. It provides opportunities to identify examples of puns, decipher their double meanings and even attempt their own wordplay. The activities gradually build confidence and understanding, making the resource suitable for both introducing the topic and reinforcing learning.

Some of the activities you will find in this puns worksheet pack include:

1. Pun or Not?
2. List the Multiple Meanings
3. Draw the Literal Meaning
4. Why Is It Pun-ny?
5. Become a Pun Builder

This puns worksheet pack downloads as an easy-print PDF or an editable Google Slides file. Answers are included in both file options.

Using These Pun Worksheets in Your ELA Lessons

These pun worksheets have been designed with flexibility in mind and can be used in a variety of ways throughout your ELA program.

Here are some suggestions from our team to get you started:

• Whole-Class Teaching – Project one of the worksheets onto your interactive whiteboard to introduce puns and model how wordplay works.
• Collaborative Group Work – Choose a couple of worksheets for students to work on in small groups to provide targeted support and discussion opportunities.
• Independent Practice – Have students work on one or two worksheets independently to allow them to demonstrate their understanding of puns.

Download Your Puns Worksheets to Get Started

Use the dropdown menu on the Download button to access your preferred version of these puns worksheets. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides version to your personal drive before accessing it.)

As this resource contains answer sheets, we recommend printing one copy of the entire file. Then, remove the answer sheets and make photocopies of the worksheets as required.

With clear instructions and engaging tasks, the resource allows teachers to spend less time preparing materials and more time supporting student learning.

This resource was created by Amanda Goodman, a teacher in New York and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources for Exploring Word Play

Looking for more teacher-created, curriculum-aligned activities for teaching your students about word play in poetry and narratives? Click below to explore these hand-picked suggestions from our team.

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