| 100% | WENTSOLO | 8 | Tried to make it on one's own without the band (2 wds.) |
| 62% | GOSOLO | 6 | Try to make it on one's own |
| 57% | WENTSOLO | 8 | Left the band to make one's own music: 2 wds. |
| 56% | GOSOLO | 6 | Leave the band to make it big on one's own |
| 45% | CALLERID | 8 | It tells people who's trying to reach them on the phone: 2 wds., abbr. |
| 44% | ROBERTSCOTT | 11 | British explorer who tried to beat 31-Across to the South Pole, and who didn't make it back: 2 wds. |
| 42% | SWEETCHILD | 10 | 19a's hit song "___ o' Mine" which is the band's only song to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100: 2 wds. |
| 41% | PULLA | 5 | "Are you trying to ___ fast one on me?": 2 wds. |
| 41% | SPORTCLIMBING | 13 | Wall-ascending event that was to make its debut at the 2020 Olympics: 2 wds. |
| 41% | ARROWKEY | 8 | You press it on a computer to move the cursor around: 2 wds. |
| 39% | RETOOK | 6 | Tried to improve one's score on, as the SATs |
| 38% | BEGS | 4 | Tries to make bread on the sidewalk? |
| 37% | OFFTHEMAP | 9 | Try not to wander here, it's not on the charts! |
| 37% | IDO | 3 | Vow made on one's wedding day: 2 wds. |
| 36% | WAVELENGTH | 10 | It's good for team members to be on the same one |
| 36% | IDO | 3 | "What can ___ to make it up to you?": 2 wds. |
| 36% | ICHIROSUZUKI | 12 | He never made it to the World Series despite playing in 2,653 regular-season games with the Mariners, Yankees, and Marlins: 2 wds. |
| 36% | RAFAELPALMEIRO | 14 | He never made it to the World Series despite playing in 2,831 regular-season games with the Cubs, Rangers, and Orioles: 2 wds. |
| 35% | ICANT | 5 | "I'll let you know if ___ make it on time.": 2 wds. |
| 35% | BOYZIIMEN | 9 | Their "On Bended Knee" knocked their own "I'll Make Love to You" off the #1 spot on Billboard: 3 wds. |
| 35% | IMPROVISE | 9 | Make it up as one goes along, on the spot |
| 35% | MADEDO | 6 | Tried one's best, given the situation: 2 wds. |
| 35% | MICHAELDAWSON | 13 | The father who is trying to recover his son on "Lost," played by Harold Perrineau: 2 wds |
| 35% | KENGRIFFEYJR | 12 | He never made it to the World Series despite playing in 2,671 regular-season games with the Mariners, Reds, and White Sox: 3 wds., abbr. |
| 35% | KEEP | 4 | "... and try to ___ it all the year" (part 2) |
| 35% | TANS | 4 | Tries to make one's skin darker |
| 34% | ARAW | 4 | "You can add ___ banana to make the curry taste better." (unripe): 2 wds. |
| 34% | GOSOLO | 6 | Leave the band and strike out on one's own |
| 34% | WANNABET | 8 | "Care to make it interesting?" (2 wds.) |
| 34% | ALERT | 5 | On one's toes, ___ to the danger |