| CLEW | Old word for a ball of yam; thread as a guide out of a maze/labyrinth; lower corner of a sail; or, one of the cords by which a hammock is suspended (4) |
| HEDGE | ___ maze (labyrinth in a garden) |
| SPHERE | Another word for a ball, globe or orb; or, a field of activity or interest (6) |
| STITCH | Loop of yarn or thread as a fundamental element in sewing, knitting, crochet and tapestry (6) |
| NUDIST | One cutting threads as a matter of principle (6) |
| SPUN | Make threads as a spider (4) |
| VOLVO | From the Latin word for "I roll," this was originally intended as a name for a ball bearing being developed by a Swedish company. Now this is a well-known automobile maker. |
| ERROR | A wandering (of a maze, Cat. 64.115 ), a goof (peccatum, vitium) |
| MASK | To the ancients, a "nightmare, spectre, witch"; to us, that which allows a beggar to dance with a king or a secret to stay hidden in plain sight; or, a disguise for a ball (4) |
| MANGY | Dirty mango ultimately exchanged for a piece of yam (5) |
| PLUMB | A ball of lead attached to a line for finding the depth of water (5) |
| ARIADNE | Daughter of Minos and Pasiphae who helped Theseus escape the Minotaur's labyrinth with a ball of thread (7) |
| POMANDER | From "apple of amber", a ball of aromatics once carried as a putative preservative against infection (8) |
| START | Word on the outside edge of a maze |
| ENTER | Word at the start of a maze |
| UNREELED | Removed thread, as from a bobbin |
| STAMEN | Thread, as made by a spider Ovid Met 6.145 |
| TAPPED | Applied screw thread as one got a loan from somebody (6) |
| GLOBE | End of wig reaches bottom of ear which will do for a ball |
| SPINACH | A vegetable twist with hearts of yam and artichokes (7) |
