| 100% | ORGANISMS | 9 | Creatures, and a word you shouldn't leave the NI out of |
| 41% | TONGUE | 6 | A word you can't remember will be on the tip of it |
| 40% | TRIALBYFIRE | 11 | Pressure-filled ordeal, and a description of the juxtaposed circled words on the left side of the puzzle |
| 39% | WHITE | 5 | *Idiom with the color changed! ___ sheep, when you're a part of the herd and not standing out |
| 38% | BACKSPACE | 9 | PC key with a left-pointing arrow ... and hint to the last words of the answers to starred clues |
| 38% | NOTMYFIRSTRODEO | 15 | "Done this before, you know!" ... or a hint to the last words of 17-, 23-, 31-, 40- and 48-Across |
| 38% | BOUNDS | 6 | Out of __, when a golf ball leaves the course |
| 37% | FEE | 3 | The $1000 you shell out for you and your buddy to play a round of golf at Nevada's Shadow Creek Golf Course |
| 37% | CARBONFOOTPRINT | 15 | Stepping out of the fireplace, Santa left a __ |
| 37% | FOOTBRIDGES | 11 | Pedestrians' spans, and a description of the circled words |
| 36% | HOLE | 4 | You shouldn't leave one in a plot |
| 36% | OMIT | 4 | Leave off, as the last word of a |
| 36% | TONIC | 5 | The "T" of a G and T |
| 36% | HOLY | 4 | Blessed, and a word that can precede the starts of 18-, 28-, 48- and 62-Across |
| 36% | TOKEN | 5 | (2/7) First stop: the ___ coin machine. You feed it some cash and watch as a pile of coins tumbles out. Let the games begin! |
| 36% | GOOUTSIDE | 9 | Leave the house ... and a literal feature of 17-, 25-, 36- and 50-Across |
| 36% | FIBULA | 6 | Outer of the two bones of a human leg between the knee and ankle |
| 35% | OFFTOAFASTSTART | 15 | Quick out of the blocks, and a hint to the circled letters |
| 35% | KEY | 3 | Fundamental, and a word that can follow the first parts of 20-, 31-, 41- and 52-Across |
| 35% | VENTILATTE | 10 | Drink that becomes a word meaning "air out" if you remove a T |
| 35% | MIXEDFRUIT | 10 | Sweet snack, and a description of the first words of the starred answers |
| 35% | OPENINGBELL | 11 | Exchange ringer, and a hint to the first words of the starred answers |
| 35% | PLATYPUS | 8 | Creature with a duck bill and the body of a mammal |
| 35% | HANDSET | 7 | The part of a phone that you hold and speak into |
| 35% | FOR | 3 | Word often seen in the lower left corner of a check |
| 35% | PERIANTH | 8 | Outer part of a flower, consisting of the corolla and calyx |
| 35% | ROLLINGINDOUGH | 14 | Wealthy, and a hint to the first word of 20-, 35- and 40-Across |
| 35% | EXCHANGERATES | 13 | Money-converting numbers, and a hint to the last words of the starred answers |
| 35% | XMARKSTHESPOT | 13 | Treasure-indicating phrase, and a hint to the first words of the starred answers |
| 35% | ONOMATOPOEIA | 12 | Word sounded out by the ends of 20-, 35- and 40-Across |