Good rate given to directors for stationery item (9)
I believe the answer is:
clipboard
'stationery item' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'good rate given to directors' is the wordplay.
'good rate' becomes 'clip' (I've seen this in another clue).
'given to' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'directors' becomes 'board' (board of directors).
'clip'+'board'='CLIPBOARD'
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for clipboard that I've seen before include "What may lie behind writing" , "text-copying facility" .)