Puts up number at home and has friends around (9)
I believe the answer is:
nominates
'puts up' is the definition.
('nominate' can be a synonym of 'put up')
'number at home and has friends around' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'number' could be 'm' (M is an example) and 'm' is present in the answer.
'at' could be 'in' (synonymous in some cases - eg at school, in school) and 'in' is found in the answer.
'home' could be 'at' (synonyms) and 'at' is present in the answer.
'and' could be 'n' (common abbreviation for 'and') and 'n' is found in the answer.
'around' could be 'o' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'o' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'es' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nominates that I've seen before include "Puts name forward in Minnesota" , "Propose for election" , "Proposes" , "Suggests" .)