| DOUBLEHEADER | Ballpark marathon, or hint to what can precede both parts of each starred answer |
| PAIROFCARDS | Initial blackjack hand, or what can follow both parts of each starred answer? |
| DOWNANDOUT | In need, or two words that can follow both parts of each starred clue's answer |
| DOUBLEHEADERS | Ballpark marathons |
| FIRESIDES | Warm, cozy places ... and a hint to what can precede both parts of the answers to starred clues |
| HALFANDHALF | Coffee creamer option, or what can precede both parts of the answers to the starred clues |
| SUPERCOUPLE | Jay-Z and Beyonce, for one ... or a hint to what can precede both words of each starred clue's answer |
| DOUBLETAKE | Surprised reaction ... or a hint to what can precede both halves of the answers to the starred clues |
| HOT | Word that can precede both parts of the starred clues' answers |
| BACKTOBACK | Like a doubleheader ... or each starred clue's answer, based on what can precede both its parts? |
| HANDPRINT | Turkey's body in a kid's art project, maybe (Theme hint: What can precede both words in each starred clue's answer?) |
| BODYDOUBLE | Actor's stand-in, or a hint to what can precede both parts of 17-, 25-, 35-, and 48-Across |
| WATERFRONT | Harbor area, or a hint to what can precede either half of each starred answer? |
| POWERCOUPLE | The Obamas, for one or what fits between the two parts of each starred clue's answer? |
| THEXFACTOR | Hard-to-define element, or a hint to what can precede each last word in answers to starred clues |
| DEADAHEAD | Directly in your path, or a hint to what can precede each starred answer's first word |
| OVERANDOVER | Repeatedly, or what can precede both parts of 3-, 6-, 9-, 36- or 39-Down |
| GOGETTERS | Overachievers, and a hint to a word that can precede both words of the starred answers |
| THREEINAROW | Tic-tac-toe win ... or hint to the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| POWERPLAY | Takeover endeavor ... and a hint to what can precede each word in the answers to starred clues |
