| 100% | DATE | 4 | "Play ___" (Melanie Martinez hit) |
| 58% | SPAR | 4 | Play the hits? |
| 58% | MRS | 3 | "___ Potato Head," song by Melanie Martinez |
| 57% | TRU | 3 | Hit 1989 biographical play |
| 57% | AND | 3 | Hit ___ run (baseball play) |
| 57% | SMASHINGSUCCESS | 15 | Hit film or play |
| 56% | DATE | 4 | "Play ___," song by Melanie Martinez that contains a romantic outing in its title |
| 56% | LUV | 3 | Hit 1964 Murray Schisgal play |
| 55% | XXXX | 4 | Martinez who hit 339 home runs |
| 54% | IAMACAMERA | 10 | Hit 1951 play that inspired "Cabaret" |
| 53% | GLASSMANMANAGERIE | 17 | Hit Broadway play of 1945, with "The" |
| 53% | ARAISININTHESUN | 15 | Hit 1959 Broadway play starring Sidney Poitier |
| 52% | VOLLEYS | 7 | Plays the ball before it hits ground |
| 51% | COVERBAND | 9 | Group playing 1960s hits, e.g. |
| 50% | LINER | 5 | Hit most likely to start an unassisted triple play |
| 50% | UNACORDA | 8 | Play piano with soft pedal, only hit one string |
| 49% | CONKERS | 7 | British game played by hitting chestnuts together |
| 48% | ARLO | 4 | He played at Woodstock between Melanie and Joan |
| 48% | HAMILTON | 8 | Lin-Manuel Miranda's Founding Father hit play |
| 48% | FOUL | 4 | Ball hit out of play in a ballpark |
| 48% | SLAPBASS | 8 | Way to play music that's a hit? |
| 48% | YMCA | 4 | Village People hit played at many sporting events |
| 48% | STEALS | 6 | Results of some botched hit-and-run plays |
| 46% | WEWILLROCKYOU | 13 | 1977 Queen hit often played at stadiums: 4 wds. |
| 46% | STAYFORDINNER | 13 | 1994 #1 Lisa Loeb hit played at a potluck? |
| 46% | JENNIFER | 8 | With 34-Across, "Alita: Battle Angel" actress who plays Melanie Cavill on 13-Across |
| 45% | PIAF | 4 | Singer whose life was made into a 1980 hit play |
| 45% | ENTERSANDMAN | 12 | Metallica hit played as 32-Across' entrance music: 2 wds. |
| 45% | YMCA | 4 | Village People hit that's often played at sporting events |
| 45% | BABEINTHEWOODS | 14 | 1979 #1 Styx hit played for Little Red Riding Hood? |