Sent off to small homes (5)
I believe the answer is:
nests
'homes' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'sent off to small' is the wordplay.
'off' is an anagram indicator.
'to small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'sent' is an anagram of 'nest'.
'nest'+'s'='NESTS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nests that I've seen before include "Cosy secluded retreats" , "Sets of small tables that fit closely together" , "Tables made to fit closely together" , "Bird structures" , "Settles comfortably into, as birds do" .)