| 100% | CLUE | 4 | Hint that helps solve a puzzle |
| 59% | CLUE | 4 | It helps solve a puzzle (what you are reading!) |
| 56% | DOUBLEV | 7 | W.W. II-era campaign that helped usher in the civil rights movement … and a hint to four answers in this puzzle |
| 52% | MAZE | 4 | Puzzle that a lab rat might solve |
| 49% | HINT | 4 | Bit of help with solving a puzzle |
| 48% | HINT | 4 | Helpful clue to solve a puzzle |
| 48% | SPARETIME | 9 | When you might solve a puzzle |
| 48% | HINT | 4 | Helpful suggestion for solving a puzzle |
| 48% | HINT | 4 | Extra clue while solving a puzzle |
| 48% | MAZE | 4 | Type of puzzle that can be solved by a slime mold |
| 47% | FOURH | 5 | Kind of club that's a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 46% | ANIFORANEYE | 11 | Payback phrase altered to provide a hint to solving four other puzzle answers |
| 46% | ITSDISCONNECTED | 15 | "Check the plug!" (and a hint to solving four rows in this puzzle) |
| 46% | DROPZONE | 8 | Certain delivery location, and a hint to solving six answers in this puzzle |
| 46% | THEIDES | 7 | Date that provides a phonetic hint to four other answers in this puzzle |
| 46% | SPINTHEBOTTLE | 13 | Classic party game ... or a hint to solving the answers that intersect circles |
| 45% | ALLFORONE | 9 | With 21-Down, catchphrase that provides a hint to eight answers in this puzzle |
| 45% | SOS | 3 | Critical message that's a hint to the six longest entries in this puzzle |
| 45% | WINWINSITUATION | 15 | Scenario that works out for everyone... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | MAYTHEFOURTHBEWITHYOU | 21 | Sci-fi-inspired greeting that's a hint to eight squares in this puzzle |
| 45% | CLUE | 4 | Aid to solving a puzzle |
| 45% | AHA | 3 | Shout upon solving a puzzle |
| 45% | CONDENSEDMILK | 13 | Ingredient of sweetened Thai tea, and a hint to solving some squares in this puzzle |
| 45% | WHEREARTTHOU | 12 | Question that follows "O Brother" in film ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | SECRETMENU | 10 | Food only found by those who know, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 45% | LOGIC | 5 | Means to solving a sudoku puzzle |
| 45% | GRID | 4 | Aid in solving a logic puzzle |
| 44% | EASE | 4 | What you might solve a puzzle with |
| 44% | VENUSDEMILO | 11 | Masterpiece discovered in 1820 with a feature that's a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 44% | BBB | 3 | Grp. that battles consumer fraud ... or a hint to some much-repeated letters in this puzzle |