"a salt" sounds like "assault"
"canon" (large armament) sounds like and is spelled like "Canon" (a famous brand of camera)
"board" (noun) sounds like "bored" (adjective)
"wood" (noun) sounds like "would" (modal verb)
Puns in English are usually based on words that sound the same, but have different meanings. Here is a more detailed explanation of homographs, homonyms and homophones.
Homographs
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= Same spelling ≠ Different meanings ≠ Different pronunciations
The boy’s mother tried to console (1) him after he broke his game console (2).
1. console /kun sol/ = v. to comfort
2. console /kon sol/ = n. a control unit
/dez zurt/ - desert = n. land with little rain
/deh zurt/ - desert = v. to leave
/ree fyooz/ - refuse = v. to say no
/ref fyoos/ - refuse = n. trash
/bo/ - bow = n. used to play a violin
/baw/ - bow = v. bend at the waist
/teyr/ - tear = n. liquid from eye
/tayr/ - tear = v. rip
/preh zent/ - present = n. a gift
/preh zent/ - present = v. to offer or introduce
Homonyms
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= Same spelling ≠ Different meanings = Same pronunciation
A bear (1) can bear (2) very cold temperatures.
1. bear /bayr/ = n. a large, furry animal
2. bear /bayr/ = v. to tolerate
/kan/ - can (n. metal container) and can (v. be able to)
/liit/ - light (n. visible radiation) and light (adj. not heavy)
/sink/ - sink (n. basin with water supply) and sink (v. to go below the surface of something)
/waav/ - wave (v. to move one’s hand) and wave (n. disturbance in the surface of liquid)
/park/ - park (n. open, outdoor area) and park (v. stop and leave a vehicle)
Homophones
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≠ Different spellings ≠ Different meanings = Same pronunciation
The actor can be seen (1) in a scene (2) in his new movie.
1. seen /seen/ = (verb) observed
2. scene /seen/ = (noun) part of a movie or play
/bord/ - bored (adj. lost interest) and board (n. long, thin, flat piece of wood)
/grees/ - grease (n. lubricant) and Greece (n. a European country)
/niit/ - night (n. time of the day with no light) and knight (n. a soldier wearing a coat of armor in Medieval times)
/noz/ - nose (n. a part of a face) and knows (v. to understand)
/sent/ - sent (v. past tense of verb to send) and scent (n. smell)
