2. Shakespeare's plays often contain puns, which are A. rhyming lines B. slang terms. C. archaic phrases. D. plays on words.

The correct answer is D. plays on words.

Shakespeare's plays often contain puns, which are plays on words. A pun is a form of wordplay that exploits multiple meanings of a term or similar-sounding words for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. Shakespeare frequently used puns in his plays to create humor, wit, and clever language.