| EIGHT | Word before ball or after |
| AIR | Word before "ball" or "guitar' |
| CUE | Word before ball or stick |
| LONG | Word before ball or shot |
| LOOSE | Word before "ball" or "change" |
| SKEE | Word before "ball" in carnival games |
| CORN | Before ball or dog |
| SNOW | Before ball or bank |
| CURVE | Word after bell or before ball |
| THERMOSPHERE | Warm outer layer mother's arranged before ball |
| HIGHFIVES | Greetings from America (greeting heard before ball game) |
| TEMPERANCE | Sulk before ball? Daughter's rejected sobriety (10) |
| LOTHARIO | Lover in group styled hair before ball (8) |
| DIDO | Singer performed before ball (4) |
| TANGO | Dance with zest before ball (5) |
| CATCH | From "chase", a word meaning capture, grasp, seize or take, as in a ball or a cold; or, a clasp, clip, hasp, latch or anything that fastens or holds (5) |
| DELIVERY | Manner or style of giving a speech or bowling a cricket ball; or, the process of childbirth or parturition (8) |
| ASSEMBLY | A gathering of pupils, shareholders, UN leaders or worshippers; a military signal by drumbeat or bugle call; or, an at-home, ball or reception (8) |
| POMPON | From the Old French for "knot of ribbons", a tufted ball or bobble of silk or wool; a cluster of tinsel for cheerleading; or, a globe-like flower of a chrysanthemum or dahlia (6) |
| TRY | An attempt, effort or experiment; or, since the 1840s, a word for the touchdown of a rugby ball or for the points subsequently scored (3) |
