| 100% | GRADE | 5 | A- or C+, for example |
| 73% | NOISE | 5 | For example, a car horn or a dog barking |
| 73% | DROID | 5 | R2-D2 or C-3PO, for example |
| 70% | TOXICASSET | 10 | Subprime mortgage, for example, or a reason for changing hands? |
| 67% | SLAV | 4 | A Bosnian or Serb, for example |
| 67% | UNIT | 4 | A kilo or gallon, for example |
| 67% | METALBAND | 9 | Wedding ring, for example ... or a hint to 20-, 29-, and 49-Across? |
| 66% | VITAMIN | 7 | A or C |
| 65% | ANTIOXIDANT | 11 | Vitamin C or E, for example |
| 64% | POEM | 4 | A sonnet or a haiku, for example |
| 64% | NOTES | 5 | C flat and A sharp, for example |
| 63% | ASSET | 5 | A house or a car, for example, financially |
| 63% | REPTILE | 7 | A lizard, snake, crocodile or tortoise for example |
| 62% | CALL | 4 | "Safe" or "out," for example, during a softball game |
| 62% | BAKES | 5 | Makes a cake or pie, for example |
| 61% | FALSIFY | 7 | Counterfeit or forge, a document, for example |
| 60% | GRADE | 5 | A+, for example |
| 60% | GRADE | 5 | A+ or C- |
| 60% | POLYGRAPH | 9 | Test required for all C.I.A. applicants … or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 59% | POLYP | 5 | Hydra or coral for example |
| 59% | TEA | 3 | Bergamot or jasmine for example |
| 59% | DANCE | 5 | Ballet or tap for example |
| 59% | THREE | 5 | Number of Scrabble points for a B, C, M or P |
| 59% | SCORE | 5 | Make a goal or a basket, for example |
| 59% | RACE | 4 | The Indianapolis 500 or a 10K, for example |
| 59% | CORRIDOR | 8 | Passageway in a school or hospital, for example |
| 59% | ERRAND | 6 | Grocery shopping or mailing a letter, for example |
| 58% | VITAMIN | 7 | Maybe I'm in vat A or C? |
| 58% | SIDE | 4 | A or B, for a cassette |
| 58% | SIDE | 4 | A or B, for the record |