| 100% | KELT | 4 | Salmon that has spawned but hasn't returned to sea |
| 40% | SQUID | 5 | Sea creature that looks similar to an octopus but may have more tentacles |
| 33% | GALILEE | 7 | Sea that Jesus is said to have walked on |
| 31% | LIE | 3 | “I’d love to, but I already have plans that day,” sometimes |
| 31% | EBB | 3 | Return to sea, as the tide |
| 30% | EEL | 3 | Creature that may travel to the Sargasso Sea to spawn and lay eggs |
| 30% | ZIP | 3 | Instrument that has teeth but doesn't bite |
| 30% | ANTS | 4 | Insects that have queens but don't fly |
| 30% | MACAO | 5 | Asian territory that has its own National Olympic Committee but is not allowed to compete at the Olympic Games |
| 30% | IRS | 3 | Org. that recently extended its deadline by three months but still has demands for returns |
| 29% | HALE | 4 | I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country speaker |
| 29% | GLEE | 4 | Fox series that has spawned numerous albums |
| 29% | ALLEGED | 7 | Something that is said but hasn't been proven yet |
| 29% | SOBERBERBER | 11 | African nomad who hasn't had a thing to drink? |
| 29% | SNL | 3 | TV show that has spawned many movies, briefly |
| 29% | HEIFER | 6 | Cow that hasn't had a cow |
| 29% | IMAWARE | 7 | "You don't have to tell me that" |
| 29% | IKNOW | 5 | "You don't have to tell me that!" |
| 29% | IMAWARE | 7 | “You don’t have to tell me that” |
| 29% | ORNOT | 5 | "... guess we don't have to do that" |
| 28% | FORTUNE | 7 | ___ Cookies, a treat that is believed to have been invented in China, but actually came from California |
| 28% | HALE | 4 | Nathan who said "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" |
| 28% | ESE | 3 | Letter trio that "Japanese" has but "Japan" doesn't |
| 28% | NONEED | 6 | "Thanks, but you don't have to" (2 wds.) |
| 28% | ONS | 3 | Clip-___ (ties that don't have to be tied) |
| 28% | FREE | 4 | Something that you didn't have to pay for |
| 28% | BETTERYOUTHANME | 15 | "Glad I didn't have to deal with that!" |
| 28% | EBB | 3 | Return to the sea, as the tide |
| 28% | CBS | 3 | Network that had a logo of a spotlight illuminating letters, but changed in '51 to one inspired by a Pennsylvania Dutch hex sign |
| 28% | OWE | 3 | Have to return |