| 100% | PLY | 3 | To work, to __ a trade (rhymes with "why") |
| 63% | PROBONO | 7 | To work with a client free of charge |
| 62% | GYM | 3 | Place to work with a personal trainer |
| 62% | POTATO | 6 | Opt to work with a staple food |
| 61% | TARN | 4 | A mountain lake formed due to rainfall that rhymes with "barn" |
| 61% | HERB | 4 | A plant used to flavor food; rhymes with curb |
| 61% | GALL | 4 | To annoy or irritate a person; rhymes with ball |
| 60% | SHOE | 4 | Home to a nursery rhyme woman with lots of children |
| 59% | TRAUMA | 6 | Something to work through with a therapist |
| 56% | MITE | 4 | Parasite similar to a tick (rhymes with "site") |
| 56% | ITSRAINING | 10 | With 63-Across, the opening lines to a nursery rhyme suggested by this puzzle's circled letters |
| 56% | ARUBA | 5 | Island whose name rhymes with a popular thing to do there |
| 56% | FOSTERMOMS | 10 | Couple working with a social worker to help raise a child |
| 55% | GIT | 3 | An unpleasant person, to a Brit (rhymes with "fit") |
| 55% | SMIT | 4 | Stain or sully, to a Scot (rhymes with "bit") |
| 55% | REEK | 4 | To cause a stench (rhymes with "meek") |
| 55% | STRIVE | 6 | Work hard to achieve something (rhymes with "thrive") |
| 54% | TOIL | 4 | To work hard (rhymes with "soil") |
| 54% | PLOUGH | 6 | *Farm machine pulled by oxen, to a Brit (rhymes with "now") |
| 54% | STYE | 4 | A growth on an eyelid that rhymes with "Why" |
| 54% | PRY | 3 | To ___ open something with a crowbar (rhymes with dry) |
| 53% | SLIME | 5 | Sticky stuff kids love to play with, and a word that rhymes with "time" |
| 53% | OUTBOX | 6 | Where finished work goes ... with a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 53% | BOP | 3 | “___ to the Top” (“High School Musical” song with a rhyming title) |
| 52% | DEALS | 5 | Works as a trader |
| 52% | HOE | 3 | A soil moving tool used to dig holes (rhymes with "Bow") |
| 52% | PLY | 3 | To practice as a trade |
| 51% | INBOX | 5 | Where work piles up ... with a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 51% | GLARE | 5 | To give someone a long, disapproving look (rhymes with "snare") |
| 51% | HALTS | 5 | Comes to a dead stop (rhymes with "salts") |