Joke produces silence (3)
I believe the answer is:
gag
I believe this is a double definition.
'joke' is the first definition.
(gagging is a kind of joking)
'silence' is the second definition.
(gagging is a kind of silencing)
'produces' is the link.
(Other definitions for gag that I've seen before include "Joke, hoax" , "Joke (colloq.)" , "Muzzle or silence" , "Humorous anecdote or remark" , "Palindromic muxxle" .)