But it may already be bread (5)
I believe the answer is:
dough
'be bread' is the definition.
(both can informally mean money)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dough that I've seen before include "Money (slang)" , "Moistened flour" , "cash" , "Floury mixture" , "Flour mixture for bread and pastry" .)