| 100% | SWIMMINGPOOL | 12 | You might dip a 25-Down in this to test the water |
| 65% | PARAFFIN | 8 | You might dip a 55-Down in this to make a candle |
| 57% | INDIAINK | 8 | You might dip a 15-Down in this before writing something |
| 53% | CHEESEFONDUE | 12 | You might dip 37-Down in this at a dinner party |
| 46% | ROOTS | 5 | You might put these down once you've found a place to stay |
| 46% | YOUCOMPLETEME | 13 | Something you might say to your darling ... or to the letters D-A-R-L-I-N-G in this puzzle |
| 45% | EARTH | 5 | What you might "come down to" after having your head in the clouds |
| 43% | WADES | 5 | Tests the waters, in a way |
| 43% | TOE | 3 | What you might use to test the temperature of a bath |
| 42% | GULLIBLE | 8 | How you might feel after reading the third letter of every clue in this puzzle for a secret message |
| 42% | TOE | 3 | Dip a ___ in the water |
| 41% | TOE | 3 | You might put it into a pool to test the temperature |
| 41% | TENT | 4 | You might have a stake in this |
| 41% | MEAL | 4 | You might want to sit down for this |
| 40% | BID | 3 | You might need a paddle to do this |
| 40% | HEAT | 4 | You might use a thermometer to measure this |
| 40% | SKI | 3 | You might need a lift to do this |
| 40% | MERCURY | 7 | You might find this planet in a thermometer |
| 40% | DANCE | 5 | "___ floors are closed till further notice!" sign you might have seen if you hoped to shake a leg in Finland during the 1939 ban |
| 40% | BOX | 3 | Container (and, in a way, what you will find outlined by this year's clues related to the mega-meta) |
| 40% | HERO | 4 | *Person who saves the day... and a word you may use to describe those being celebrated in this puzzle |
| 40% | LIE | 3 | You might get a bad one in the rough |
| 40% | SSN | 3 | You might provide the "last four" of this, in brief |
| 40% | IRONS | 5 | You might have a lot of them in the fire |
| 40% | PJS | 3 | You may have a nightcap when you're in these |
| 40% | COT | 3 | Where you might go down in the ranks? |
| 40% | AMFMRADIO | 9 | Bands you might listen to in the car? |
| 40% | COSTUME | 7 | Something you might go to a party in |
| 39% | WATERSOURCE | 11 | *You might dip a bucket in one |
| 39% | PROM | 4 | Dance you may go to in a limo |