What can make a piercing cry with no head? (3)
I believe the answer is:
awl
'what can make a piercing' is the definition.
(tool used to pierce things)
'cry with no head?' is the wordplay.
'cry' becomes 'bawl' (synonyms).
'with no head?' means to remove the first letter (I've seen 'with no head' mean this).
'bawl' with its initial letter removed is 'AWL'.
(Other definitions for awl that I've seen before include "Tool for hole making" , "One piercing" , "Instrument for boring holes" , "Cobbler's tool" , "Tool for piercing holes in leather" .)