Crossword Genius

Off-shore isle's housing English agency (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

means

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'agency' is the definition.
(I know that agency can be written as means)

'off-shore isle's housing english' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'english' could be 'e' (abbreviation) and 'e' is located in the answer.
'isle's' could be 'mans' (the Isle of Man is an example) and 'mans' is found within the leftover letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for means that I've seen before include "Ways" , "Averages" , "Indicates" , "Signifies" , "Intends - capital" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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