| 100% | PAD | 3 | I'm used by many sports players to protect themselves from injuries |
| 29% | MASKING | 7 | __ tape is used by decorators to protect paintwork |
| 28% | HORN | 4 | Bulls use this to protect themselves |
| 27% | PADDLE | 6 | I'm a small bat used by ping pong players |
| 27% | DRAFT | 5 | Process used to assign players in some sports |
| 27% | EAR | 3 | "I used to play piano by ___. Now I use my hands!" |
| 26% | BRA | 3 | Sports ___ (item worn by many WNBA players) |
| 26% | COAT | 4 | I'm the white cape that chemists wear to protect from messy reactions. Who am I? |
| 26% | GALLEON | 7 | Large square-rigged sailing ship especially used by Spain from the 15th to 18th centuries |
| 26% | SUBALTERN | 9 | Term first used by Antonio Gramsci to mean a subject excluded from hegemonic power structures |
| 26% | DIBS | 4 | Word often used by Barney on "How I Met Your Mother" to lay first claim |
| 26% | KONTIKI | 7 | Balsa wood raft used by Thor Heyerdahl to sail from Peru to the Tuamotus in 1947 |
| 26% | ALLEYOOP | 8 | Sports term thought to derive from a phrase cried by French acrobats before leaping |
| 25% | FIG | 3 | Fruit tree whose leaves were reportedly used by Adam and Eve in the Bible to cover themselves |
| 25% | FIG | 3 | Fruit-bearing tree whose leaves were used by Adam and Eve in the Bible to clothe themselves |
| 25% | MOREL | 5 | Fungus used by many |
| 25% | FIG | 3 | Fruit-bearing tree whose leaves were reportedly used by Adam and Eve in the Bible to cover themselves |
| 25% | SQUADS | 6 | Sports teams, groups of players to pick from |
| 25% | HOMEDEPOT | 9 | Chain used by many contractors |
| 25% | ECO | 3 | Prefix used by many environmentalists |
| 25% | GMT | 3 | Intl. standard used by many astrologers |
| 25% | STEROIDS | 8 | Substances banned by most sports leagues |
| 25% | HEELTOTOE | 9 | Walking pattern used by most people |
| 24% | PALLA | 5 | Traditional sport from Tuscany that's similar to tennis, where players yell "eh!" before serving |
| 24% | MILES | 5 | "And ___ to go before I sleep..." (lines from "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening") |
| 24% | SEE | 3 | "...And now I beg to ___ you dance just one more time" (words from "Dance Monkey") |
| 24% | HOOPDREAMS | 10 | Sports documentary by Steve James, based on African American students wanting to become professional basketball players: 2 wds. |
| 24% | NAVAHO | 6 | Language used by many code talkers (var.) |
| 24% | DESI | 4 | Label used by many South Asian people |
| 24% | RFID | 4 | Technology used by most toll-tag systems; |