The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word STUFF
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
T
U
F
F
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "12/things" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case 12/things = stuff.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does STUFF mean?
STUFF noun- Miscellaneous items or objects; (with possessive) personal effects.
- Unspecified things or matters.
- The tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object.
- A material for making clothing; any woven textile, but especially a woollen fabric.
- Boards used for building.
- Abstract substance or character.
- Used as placeholder, usually for material of unknown type or name.
- Narcotic drugs, especially heroin.
- Furniture; goods; domestic vessels or utensils.
- A medicine or mixture; a potion.
- Refuse or worthless matter; hence, also, foolish or irrational language; nonsense; trash.
- A melted mass of turpentine, tallow, etc., with which the masts, sides, and bottom of a ship are smeared for lubrication.
- Paper stock ground ready for use. When partly ground, it is called half stuff.
- Money.
- To fill by packing or crowding something into; to cram with something; to load to excess.
- To fill a space with (something) in a compressed manner.
- To fill with seasoning.
- To load goods into (a container) for transport.
- (used in the passive) To sate.
- (pronominal) To eat, especially in a hearty or greedy manner.
- To break; to destroy.
- To sexually penetrate.
- (mildly vulgar, often imperative) Used to contemptuously dismiss or reject something. See also stuff it.
- To heavily defeat or get the better of.
- To cut off another competitor in a race by disturbing his projected and committed racing line (trajectory) by an abrupt manoeuvre.
- To preserve a dead bird or other animal by filling its skin.
- To obstruct, as any of the organs; to affect with some obstruction in the organs of sense or respiration.
- To form or fashion by packing with the necessary material.
- To crowd with facts; to cram the mind of; sometimes, to crowd or fill with false or idle tales or fancies.
- To compress (a file or files) in the StuffIt format, to be unstuffed later.