| 100% | HOME | 4 | There's no place like it ... or a word that can precede either half of the answer to each starred clue |
| 73% | KEEP | 4 | Hang on to ... or a word that can precede either half of the answer to each starred clue |
| 53% | CAKE | 4 | Word that can follow either half of the answers to the starred clues |
| 51% | AIR | 3 | Word that can precede each half of the answers to each of the eight starred clues |
| 47% | EMPTY | 5 | Containing nothing, or a word that sounds like the initials of the answers to the starred clues |
| 45% | PLAY | 4 | Word that can precede each half of the starred answers |
| 44% | DOUBLETAKE | 10 | Surprised reaction ... or a hint to what can precede both halves of the answers to the starred clues |
| 44% | SHORT | 5 | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to the eight starred clues |
| 44% | BUTTERFLY | 9 | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to the five starred clues |
| 41% | FIRE | 4 | Word that can precede each half of each starred answer |
| 40% | LINE | 4 | Word that can follow each part of the answers to the six starred clues |
| 40% | WHITEMATTER | 11 | Certain brain tissue, or what each half of the answers to the starred clues can be |
| 40% | NONSTARTER | 10 | Plan that has no chance of working ___ or the answer to each starred clue? |
| 40% | NONSTARTER | 10 | Plan that has no chance of working ... or the answer to each starred clue? |
| 40% | FIREANDRAIN | 11 | James Taylor classic ... or, respectively, what can precede the two words in each answer to a starred clue |
| 39% | EARLYBIRD | 9 | Morning person, or a feature of the answer to each starred clue? |
| 39% | GOONAHEAD | 9 | "Don't wait for me to proceed" ... or what either part of the answer to each starred clue can do? |
| 39% | DAS | 3 | Word that can precede EFX or Racist to create the name of a hip-hop group |
| 39% | PARTANIMAL | 10 | Like a centaur or faun ... or a hint to the answer to each of this puzzle's starred clues |
| 39% | ALLYOUNEEDISLOVE | 16 | Beatles hit that's a hint to both parts of the answer to each starred clue |
| 39% | HALFMEASURE | 11 | Paltry effort, or a literal description of the answer to each starred clue |
| 38% | BREADANDBUTTER | 14 | Primary source of income ... and words that can precede the two parts, respectively, of the answers to starred clues |
| 38% | BLANKCHECK | 10 | Complete freedom ... and a hint to each half of the answer to each starred clue |
| 38% | DEADEND | 7 | Like jobs with no future ... and what the start of each answer to a starred clue can be? |
| 38% | FIRESIDES | 9 | Warm, cozy places ... and a hint to what can precede both parts of the answers to starred clues |
| 38% | DEADEND | 7 | Cul-de-sac ... or what either part of the answer to each starred clue is? |
| 37% | MANBABY | 7 | Certain immature adult … with a hint to both halves of the answers to each starred clue |
| 37% | IMTAKEN | 7 | Polite rejection at a dance ... or a hint to each half of the answers to the starred clues |
| 37% | AHEADOFTIME | 11 | Early, or a hint to where each half of each starred answer can be found |
| 37% | HINT | 4 | "The first word of the answer to each of the six starred clues describes the number of that clue," e.g. |