Yes the 2 clues for A begin with A, one is 7 letters and one is 6 letters. The first answer for A has its clue "friendly sailor in a distance" the rest belongs to the other "A" answer.
26 of the answers are "the same thing" - you'll understand when you solve a few of them.
I try to get most of the answers on paper first, then have a go at fitting them in the grid. remember a4 themed answers go in Grid A, the other 12 themed answrrs go in Grid B