jeu de mots

It is simply a jeu de mots, and no more, though funny enough as it stands.

From By-ways in Book-land Short Essays on Literary Subjects by William Davenport Adams

Whence the following jeu de mots: "Le mur, murant Paris, rend Paris murmurout."

From Paris as It Was and as It Is by Francis W. Blagdon

Now and again he chuckled as some jeu de mots hit the mark and drew a quick gust of laughter from the unseen audience.

From The Head of Kay's by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse

"Come, come, you little humbug, take off that gigantic sacque, and sit down here; upun my word I won't make any more of those nasty jeu de mots."

From Honor Edgeworth Ottawa's Present Tense by [pseud.] Vera

"And yet I have heard your Grace indulge in the jeu de mots," answered the attendant.

From Peveril of the Peak by Sir Walter Scott