| 100% | SHARP | 5 | *Pointed ... and the end of the word ladder |
| 89% | WIND | 4 | *Renewable energy source … and the end of the word ladder |
| 78% | BLUNT | 5 | *Not pointed ... and the start of an eight-step word ladder |
| 76% | RICH | 4 | End of the word ladder |
| 76% | VOTE | 4 | End of the word ladder |
| 76% | WELL | 4 | End of the word ladder |
| 76% | NUTS | 4 | End of the word ladder |
| 72% | ROLL | 4 | With 44- and 76-Across, way to put legislators on record ... or the start, middle and end of a word ladder |
| 67% | NUTS | 4 | *End of the word ladder |
| 66% | THEMONTHOFMARCH | 15 | Period described by the clues and answers to 1- and 72-Across (which are the start and end of a word ladder formed by the answers to the 10 asterisked clues) |
| 65% | RAISEEMUP | 9 | Words before a toast, and what you can do to the ends of the starred answers |
| 65% | ONOMATOPOEIA | 12 | Word sounded out by the ends of 20-, 35- and 40-Across |
| 64% | TRAP | 4 | Word that can follow the ends of 18-, 25-, 43- and 58-Across |
| 64% | CHIP | 4 | Word that can follow the ends of 17-, 27-, 43- and 57-Across |
| 64% | BALL | 4 | Word that can follow the ends of 17-, 26-, 43- and 58-Across |
| 63% | CAKE | 4 | Word that can follow the ends of 17-, 31-, 38-, 50- and 64-Across |
| 63% | COAL | 4 | *Nonrenewable energy source … and the start of an eight-step word ladder |
| 63% | DANCE | 5 | Word that can follow the ends of 17-, 21-, 36-, 44-, 54- and 64-Across |
| 62% | NOTE | 4 | Word that can follow the ends of 20- and 54-Across and 4- and 26-Down |
| 62% | CRACKER | 7 | Word that can follow the ends of 17- and 62-Across and 11- and 34-Down |
| 62% | THATSALLFOLKS | 13 | Porky Pig's words, befitting the ends of 20-, 26-, 49- and 54-Across |
| 61% | IMONYOURSIDE | 12 | Words of full support, or a hint to the ends of 20-, 27-, 35- and 48-Across |
| 61% | PATION | 6 | … and the end of the theme (finally!) |
| 61% | ITSONTHEHOUSE | 13 | Words from a friendly bartender, and a description of the ends of 17-, 25-, 51- and 59-Across |
| 60% | TOAST | 5 | *Doomed, slangily (and end of the ladder) |
| 60% | PICKUP | 6 | Learn ... or a word that can precede the ends of 20-, 29-, 44- and 53-Across |
| 59% | WATCHWORDS | 10 | Guiding principles, and the ends of the starred answers |
| 59% | SOUP | 4 | *Start of the word ladder |
| 59% | WHITEWATER | 10 | Canoeing challenge whose first word can precede the start and whose second word can precede the end of the answers to starred clues |
| 58% | SHIFTS | 6 | Work assignments ... and, preceded by 1-Across, the key to creating the word ladder (and part 8 of it) |