| SOMETHING | Word that can precede the starts of 18-, 20-, 53- and 58-Across |
| MADAMIMADAM | Palindromic introduction, and a hint to the ends of 18-, 20-, 53- and 57-Across |
| MARIOBROS | Video game franchise with characters found at the ends of 17-, 20-, 53- and 58-Across |
| SCUBADIVING | Underwater activity that requires the ends of 16-, 20-, 53- and 58-Across |
| VILLAGEPEOPLE | Disco-era group known for the starts of 18-, 20-, 54- and 57-Across |
| RESTORATION | Handyman's work suggested by the starts of 18-, 20-, 38 and 57-Across |
| BUTTERFLY | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to the five starred clues |
| SHORT | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to the eight starred clues |
| BLACK | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| WHITE | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| ICECREAM | Yummy words that can precede the starts of 17-, 26-, 38-, and 52- Across (and Happy National ___ Day!) |
| WHITEWATER | Canoeing challenge whose first word can precede the start and whose second word can precede the end of the answers to starred clues |
| BABY | Word that can precede the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| MONEY | Word that can follow the first word of 18-, 20-, 35-, 54-, |
| JELLY | What quivering legs feel like ... or a word that can precede the starts of 17-, 27-, 45- and 60-Acro |
| BLACKANDWHITE | Like a zebra, or two words that can precede the starts of 19-, 24-, 36- and 46- Across |
| EGG | Word that can precede the starts of answers to starred clues |
| EASTER | Word that can precede the starts of this puzzle's nine longest answers |
| MOTHER | Word that can precede the starts of this puzzle's nine longest answers |
| CHRISTMAS | Word that can precede the starts of eight key words in this puzzle |
