Puppet artist returned money (6)
I believe the answer is:
dollar
'money' is the definition.
(US currency)
'puppet artist returned' is the wordplay.
'puppet' becomes 'doll' (I've seen this in another clue).
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'ra' back-to-front is 'ar'.
'doll'+'ar'='DOLLAR'
(Other definitions for dollar that I've seen before include "US currency" , "Monetary unit - town in Clackmannanshire" , "Standard monetary unit of many countries" , "American currency" , "Philip -, English poet" .)