| 100% | NEWSPAPER | 9 | Answer to an old riddle alluded to by the starts of 17-, 32-, 42- and 64-Across |
| 46% | ILIAD | 5 | Work hinted at by the starts of 17-, 26-, 42- and 56-Across |
| 45% | SOWHATELSEISNEW | 15 | Sarcastic question answered by the starts of 17-, 25-, 51- and 59-Across |
| 43% | DONTBESILLY | 11 | "C'mon, get serious!" ... and an admonition evidently ignored by the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 43% | COCOCHANEL | 10 | Fashion designer associated with the item spelled out by the starts of 17-, 26- and 42-Across |
| 42% | RSVPING | 7 | Acknowledging an invitation ... or a hint to the starts of 19-, 32-, 39- and 49-Across |
| 42% | GOLFBALL | 8 | Sports item that can be found at the starts of 17-, 21-, 32-, 42- and 54-Across |
| 41% | ONAUTO | 6 | Running by itself, and where the first words of 17-, 35-, 42- and 64-Across can be placed |
| 41% | ESSAYCOLLECTION | 15 | Anthology of personal writings ... and a phonetic hint to what is literally comprised by the answers of 17-, 23-, 46- and 56-Across |
| 40% | USEFOWLLANGUAGE | 15 | What the starts of the answers to 17-, 24-, 48- and 60-Across do, punnily? |
| 40% | WHERETHE | 8 | With 43-Across, an exciting place, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 40% | THEMEANINGOFLIFE | 16 | Profound philosophical subject, as defined by the answers to 21-, 32-, and 42-Across? |
| 40% | USPS | 4 | Org. suggested by the starts of 17-, 31-, 41- and 62-Across |
| 40% | PACMAN | 6 | Where to find the starts of 17-, 28-, 45- and 58-Across? |
| 40% | INNERNERD | 9 | The secret geeky part of you ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 32-, 42- and 49-Across |
| 39% | THANKSGIVINGDAY | 15 | Setting for the starts of 17-, 24-, 51- and 64-Across |
| 39% | GROUCHOMARX | 11 | Speaker of the quip revealed by the ends of the answers to 17-, 25-, 35- and 48-Across |
| 39% | GETTINGCLOSER | 13 | Parlor game encouragement suggested by the starts of 17-, 28-, 45- and 60-Across |
| 39% | BILLY | 5 | Name associated with the starts of 17-, 27-, 48- and 64-Across |
| 39% | BIRDIE | 6 | Term illustrated by the starts of 17- and 20-Across |
| 39% | WOOD | 4 | Object of the actions suggested by the starts of 17-, 30-, 47- and 66-Across |
| 39% | THEBIGBADWOLF | 13 | Villain in the story named by the starts of 17-, 25-, 47- and 57-Across |
| 39% | APRILFOOLSDAY | 13 | Apt time for pranksters to do the starts of 17-, 22-, 50-, and 57-Across? |
| 39% | THEOLYMPICGAMES | 15 | Event suggested by the starts of 17-, 35- and 40-Across |
| 39% | DANCE | 5 | Hint to the start of 17-, 31-, 46- and 61-Across |
| 39% | LOUISAMAYALCOTT | 15 | Author who created the characters named by the starts of 17-, 24-, 49- and 61-Across |
| 39% | SIXTEEN | 7 | Next number in a series suggested by the starts of 17-, 27-, 46- and 60-Across |
| 39% | MOON | 4 | Its cycle is indicated by the starts of 20-, 32-, 40- and 55-Across |
| 38% | BESTMUSICAL | 11 | Award won by the starts of 17-, 25-, 39- and 52-Across and 11- and 29-Down |
| 38% | AFTERSCHOOL | 11 | Common time for homework, and where to find the starts of 17-, 26-, 37-, and 49-Across |