It holds the line

REEL

Think of what an angler winds after casting, or the cylindrical part of a tape measure that keeps things tidy.

The clue "It holds the line" plays on the double meaning of "line." In fishing, a reel is the device that holds the fishing line, keeping it taut and ready to cast. The word "reel" also sounds like "real," but here it’s purely about the object that literally holds the line—whether for fishing, kites, or even old telephone cords. The answer is straightforward once you think of the physical tool that does exactly what the clue describes.