Equivocation:
The use of the same term in two different senses in an argument.

Example:



Explanation:
In this, the equivocation is "cut out". At first the reader thinks the dog is talking about cutting out, or not eating anymore desserts. This shows the cartoonist used equivocation to mislead or hedge the reader. The purpose of the cartoonist misleading the reader is because then at the end the joke is funnier, because it is unexpected. This purpose of equivocation can be implied onto other things such as mystery novels or comical movies/books.