(1) There were tubs of flowers on the balcony.
(2) a tub of margarine
(3) They found her lying in the tub.

(1) The police think the videotape may hold some vital clues to the identity of the killer.
(2) Diet may hold the clue to the causes of migraine.
(3) ‘You'll never guess who I saw today! ’ ‘Give me a clue. ’

(1) a stern face/expression/look
(2) a stern warning
(3) Her voice was stern.

(1) a sleepy child
(2) He had begun to feel sleepy.
(3) The heat and the wine made her sleepy.

(1) Ask for a refund if the goods are faulty.
(2) faulty workmanship
(3) an accident caused by a faulty signal

(1) Human beings need food, clothing and shelter.
(2) to take shelter from the storm
(3) The fox was running for the shelter of the trees.

(1) I asked him his name, but he didn't respond.
(2) She never responded to my letter.
(3) ‘I'm not sure, ’ she responded.

(1) a federal republic
(2) a federal law
(3) state and federal income taxes

(1) Turn the soil over with a spade.
(2) (British English)The children took their buckets and spades to the beach.
(3) the five/queen/ace of spades

(1) She was shepherded by her guards up the rear ramp of the aircraft.
(2) During the night in the outside Bethlehem shepherd was guarding their sheep.
(3) The other shepherd nodded his head gravely.

(1) to win/lose an argument
(2) After some heated argument a decision was finally taken.
(3) There are strong arguments for and against euthanasia.

(1) The project seemed unlikely to succeed.
(2) It's most (= very) unlikely that she'll arrive before seven.
(3) In the unlikely event of a problem arising, please contact the hotel manager.

(1) an artistic arrangement of dried flowers
(2) a work of great artistic merit
(3) the artistic director of the theatre

(1) to smile sweetly/faintly/broadly, etc.
(2) She smiled at him and he smiled back .
(3) He smiled with relief.

(1) The system is designed to be used in conjunction with a word processing program.
(2) The police are working in conjunction with tax officers on the investigation.
(3) The conjunction of low inflation and low unemployment came as a very pleasant surprise.

(1) the North/South divide
(2) the divide between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland
(3) The issue has divided the government.

(1) a bank robber
(2) Armed robbers broke into a jeweller's through a hole in the wall.
(3) Who was the robber?

(1) sandwiches with the crusts cut off
(2) Bake until the crust is golden.
(3) a thin crust of ice

(1) the New York subway
(2) a subway station/train
(3) a downtown subway stop

(1) I usually soak the beans overnight.
(2) If you soak the tablecloth before you wash it, the stains should come out.
(3) Leave the apricots to soak for 20 minutes.

(1) lung cancer
(2) Women tend to worry about cancer of the breast than of the lung.
(3) When the external pressure reduces, bubbles form in the blood, leading to lung damage within minutes.

(1) She'd never known his surname...
(2) The majority of British women adopt their husband's surname when they marry.
(3) Alice Wilson: Oh, thank you. Well, which of the names on your card is your surname?

(1) major-league baseball
(2) United were league champions last season.
(3) As a painter, he is in a league of his own (= much better than others) .

(1) armed robbery (= using a gun, knife, etc.)
(2) There has been a spate of robberies in the area recently.
(3) The gang members committed dozens of armed robberies...

(1) a railway/railroad tunnel
(2) the Channel tunnel
(3) The engineers had to tunnel through solid rock.

(1) a furniture van
(2) a police van (= for carrying police officers or prisoners)
(3) a delivery van

(1) Jane is very mature for her age.
(2) a mature and sensible attitude
(3) sexually mature

(1) My job is to lay out the text and graphics on the page.
(2) a computer that can process text
(3) printed text

(1) to follow/obey/observe the rules
(2) It's against all rules and regulations .
(3) to break a rule (= not follow it)

(1) Nothing ever happens here.
(2) Don't you ever get tired?
(3) If you're ever in Miami, come and see us.

(1) classroom activities
(2) the use of computers in the classroom
(3) There are thirty people in the classroom, counting the teacher.

(1) the social organism (= society)
(2) Not all chemicals normally present in living organisms are harmless.
(3) ...the insect-borne organisms that cause sleeping sickness.

(1) Over the years, I have grown quite fond of her.
(2) fond of music/cooking
(3) We had grown fond of the house and didn't want to leave.

(1) His hair curls naturally.
(2) The cat curled into a ball and went to sleep.
(3) She curled her legs up under her.

(1) We've put down a 5% deposit on the house.
(2) They normally ask you to pay £100 (as a) deposit.
(3) to pay a deposit

(1) ‘I passed the test! ’ ‘I'm so glad (for you). ’
(2) ‘He doesn't need the pills any more. ’ ‘I'm glad about that. ’
(3) I'm glad to hear you're feeling better.

(1) to make a remark
(2) He made a number of rude remarks about the food.
(3) What exactly did you mean by that last remark?

(1) a folk/love/pop, etc. song
(2) We sang a song together.
(3) The story is told through song and dance.

(1) a dog/factory owner
(2) The painting has been returned to its rightful owner .
(3) He's now the proud owner of a cottage in Wales.

(1) We expected great things of the England team, but on the day they simply failed to deliver the goods.
(2) a heavy goods vehicle
(3) a goods train