Bonds

TIES

Think of what holds a necktie in place or connects railroad tracks together—both share this four-letter word.

"Bonds" can mean financial securities, but it also refers to connections between people or things. Here, the clue plays on the double meaning—while "bonds" might first suggest investments, the answer "TIES" fits as another word for strong connections (like family ties or neckties). It’s a straightforward example of how crosswords use multiple definitions of a word to misdirect slightly before landing on the simpler answer.