Objects used for measuring sovereigns (6)
I believe the answer is:
rulers
'sovereigns' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'objects used for measuring' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'objects' could be 'ers' (Er is an example) and 'ers' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rulers that I've seen before include "Drawing sticks or sovereigns" , "Heads of government" , "Drawing sticks or governors" , "Strips with straight edge to measure" , "they must not be crooked" .)