Crossword Genius

Reported bivalve’s strength (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

muscle

'strength' is the definition.
(muscle can mean strength or force)

'reported bivalve's' is the wordplay.
'reported' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'bivalve' becomes 'mussel' (mussel is a kind of bivalve).
'mussel' is a homophone of 'MUSCLE'.

(Other definitions for muscle that I've seen before include "Physical power" , "Bicep or tricep, for instance" , "Fibrous bodily tissue for strength" , "It can contract in the body" , "for bearing around?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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