Homophone

Two or more words with the same or similar pronunciation but varying meanings, origins, or spelling, i.e. new and knew. In China homophones are often visual puns, for example many seeds in a lotus pod symbolizes fecundity and a future with many sons, ribbons around necks of porcelain cat teapots reinforce the imagery of the teapot as a wish for a long life and vases symbolize the realization of all one’s wishes.