Put a lot in to fill a small fleet (8)
I believe the answer is:
flotilla
'a small fleet' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'put a lot in' is the wordplay.
'put' becomes 'fill' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'fill'+'a'='filla'
'filla' placed around 'lot' is 'FLOTILLA'.
'to fill' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for flotilla that I've seen before include "Fleet of small vessels" , "Group of small craft" , "set of boats" , "A lot of craft" , "number of small ships" .)