Embrace many misguided pals (5)
I believe the answer is:
clasp
'embrace' is the definition.
(I know that embrace is a more specific form of the action clasp)
'many misguided pals' is the wordplay.
'many' becomes 'c' (C is the Roman numeral for 100).
'misguided' indicates anagramming the letters (letters guided into the wrong places).
'pals' is an anagram of 'lasp'.
'c'+'lasp'='CLASP'
(Other definitions for clasp that I've seen before include "Close hands round" , "Hold firmly or fasten" , "bosom" , "Hug" , "Catch; embrace" .)