| WRITERSBLOCK | Impediment to creativity ... and each set of puzzle circles |
| UNORIGINAL | Lacking creativity and flair |
| NAMECHANGE | Postnuptial alteration, and a hint to each set of puzzle circles |
| SPLITTICKET | Politically diverse ballot ... and an apt description of each set of puzzle circles |
| CUTIN | Interrupt ... and a hint to each set of puzzle circles |
| BROKENBAT | Cause of wood splinters in the infield ... and what each set of puzzle circles represents |
| BADSANTA | 2003 Billy Bob Thornton title role ... and a hint to each set of puzzle circles |
| POPUPADS | Webirritants ... and what appears in each set of puzzle circles? |
| MADDASH | Frantic rush, and what's literally found in each set of puzzle circles |
| SPICEMIX | Curry powder, e.g . ... and what each set of puzzle circles contains |
| SURPRISETEST | Unexpected classroom announcement ... and, initially, one hiding in each set of puzzle circles |
| ATTENTIONGETTER | Verbal nudge found in each set of puzzle circles |
| ISLANDRETREATS | Vacation spots found in each set of puzzle circles |
| INTHISCORNER | Introductory words for each set of puzzle circles |
| JUMPING | Word that can precede the word in each set of puzzle circles |
| SPARECHANGE | Pocket coins, or what can literally be seen in each set of puzzle circles |
| INNERCORE | Earth's most central geologic layer ... or what can be found in each set of puzzle circles |
| BORDERRIVER | It may straddle neighboring countries ... and, in a different way, what each of four sets of puzzle circles graphically depicts |
| MIXEDDRINK | What's clued in parentheses for each of four answers, and found in corresponding sets of puzzle circles |
| LEAPINLIZARDS | Classic comics catchphrase ... and a hint to four sets of puzzle circles |
