There a lots of ways approach an instrumental section of a song arrangement.
I primarily flat pick or use a hybrid finger style which allows me to incorporate the melody with in the chords and voicings.
As well, I'll keep the groove or pocket going, but break it down to create more of an interlude than a lead break, per se. Sometimes I just play the intro again, which can be a vamp or the last four bars of the song. It all depends on the tune, which it is really what it's all about.
Sometimes I hum or scat a bit of melody.
Here's an nice simple example in the BJ Thomas/Jimmy Capps cover of Don't Worry Baby.
https://youtu.be/oS4srDHnxqA