Common directive in 17-Across … or what to do with five squares in this puzzle Crossword Clue

 The answer to the crossword clue "Common directive in 17-Across … or what to do with five squares in this puzzle" is SOLVE.

The word "solve" means to find the answer to a problem or question. It can also mean to resolve a conflict or disagreement.

In the context of a crossword puzzle, the word "solve" can be used to mean to find the answer to the clue. The clue "Common directive in 17-Across … or what to do with five squares in this puzzle" is referring to the fact that the word "solve" is a common directive in crossword puzzles. It is often used to tell the solver to find the answer to a clue that is made up of five squares.

Here are some other words that can be used to mean "solve":

Answer

Find

Determine

Resolve

Disentangle

I hope this helps!