Thread; tale (4)
I believe the answer is:
yarn
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'thread' is the first definition.
(I know that thread can be written as yarn)
'tale' is the second definition.
(synonyms)
(Other definitions for yarn that I've seen before include "Sailor's tale" , "Exaggerated story or spun thread" , "Spun fibre" , "Rope" , "Story, and thread or wool, say" .)