Tries to go two ways (4)
I believe the answer is:
goes
'tries' is the definition.
(I know this)
'go two ways' is the wordplay.
'two ways' means two replacements for 'way'.
'way' becomes 'e' (Compass direction - East).
'way' becomes 's' (Compass direction - South).
'go'+'e'+'s'='GOES'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for goes that I've seen before include "Works" , "Moves" , "SECOND PART OF 21" , "Departs; operates" , "See 17" .)