Passed broken tools (6)
I believe the answer is:
spades
'tools' is the definition.
(spade is a kind of tool)
'passed broken' is the wordplay.
'broken' indicates an anagram.
'passed' is an anagram of 'SPADES'.
(Other definitions for spades that I've seen before include "Does some groundwork" , "Suit in pack of cards" , "Shovels or playing cards" , "Card suit and sturdy shovels" , "trumps sometimes" .)