The total amount, some said (3)
I believe the answer is:
sum
'the total amount' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'some said' is the wordplay.
'said' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'some' is a homophone of 'SUM'.
(Other definitions for sum that I've seen before include "Quantity of money" , "Amount, of money say" , "See 25" , "Add together" , "Mathematical problem" .)