MIRROR REFLECTION
Credit: NY Times Crossword
December 18, 2016
Derrick Niederman

In this remarkable puzzle, which must be seen to be appreciated, every across answer and its symmetrical partner use the exact same clue.  For example, the clue CERTAIN BLADE would be answered ROTOR in the northeast corner and RAZOR in the southwest corner. Clues with two answers are very clever, though not unique (see the two other postings under this label). What's truly remarkable about this puzzle, is that not only does each clue have two answers, but - because each clue is matched with its symmetrical partner - the two answer words must have the same number of letters.

Below are 18 clues from this puzzle. Can you come up with both correct answers? The number of letters in the two answer words are shown in ( ).

1. Hood lead-in (6)
2. Historical period (3)
3. Court concern (3)
4. Dead follower (3)
5. Square follower (4)
6. Caterpillar product (4)
7. Where to find grooms (6)
8. White House sight (10)
9. Stick together (5)
10. Like many a lot (5)
11. Spread dirt (5)
12. One of five on a starfish (3)
13. Set of clubs in a bag (5)
14. Something you could do with flies (4)
15. Instrument for an angel (4)
16. What you might call a dog (4)
17. Legendary Egyptian Queen (9)
18. Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar (4)

HINTS:
One of the words:
1. Mother
2. Era
3. Law
4. Eye
5. Meal
6. Plow
7. Altars
8. Oval Office
9. Unite
10. Paved
11. Inter
12. Arm
13. Woods
14. Swat
15. Harp
16. Mutt
17. Cleopatra
18. Magi

Answers: (Other answers are possible)

1. Mother - Riding
2. Era - Age 
3. Law - Net
4. Eye - Sea
5. Meal - Deal
6. Plow - Pupa
7. Altars - Stable
8. Oval Office - Rose Garden
9. Unite - Paste
10. Paved - Zoned
11. Inter - Rumor
12. Arm - Ray
13. Woods - Irons
14. Swat - Shag
15. Harp - Lyre
16. Mutt - Spot
17. Cleopatra - Nefertiti
18. Magi - Trio