Puts steps across lake (6)
I believe the answer is:
places
'puts' is the definition.
('place' can be a synonym of 'put')
'steps across lake' is the wordplay.
'steps' becomes 'paces' (pace is a kind of step).
'across' indicates putting letters inside.
'lake' becomes 'l'.
'paces' placed around 'l' is 'PLACES'.
(Other definitions for places that I've seen before include "Locations" , "Sites" .)