Said g-r-a-i-n? (5)

I believe the answer is:

spelt

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But I can't explain it at all! Could you help me understand?

(Other definitions for spelt that I've seen before include "Recited the letters of a word" , "Made up a word" , "grain" , "Kind of wheat" , "Given letter by letter; wheat" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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