Says; countries (6)
I believe the answer is:
states
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">I believe this is a double definition.<br/ ><br/ >'<span class="explanation-format__original">says</span>' is the first definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">('state' can be a synonym of 'say')</span><br/ ><br/ >'<span class="explanation-format__original">countries</span>' is the second definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I know this)</span><br/ ><br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for states that I've seen before include "America; says" , "Expresses in words" , "Asserts" , "Utters in the American Union" , "Conditions of American administrative units" .)