Same-same, but different

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Across
  1. 5. Carpal tunnel tunnel?
  2. 8. Authority in wheat
  3. 9. Gyro and shawarma exchange verses
  4. 10. Duck, duck, goose, for example
  5. 12. Bill Ayers castrates a ram
  6. 14. Absconds toting tote
  7. 15. Lil B prepares a moist Thanksgiving bird
  8. 16. Yoinks cantilever
  9. 17. Two or more words sharing pronunciation while differing in spelling (and a clue to solving this puzzle)
Down
  1. 1. I have had it with these motherfucking limbless reptiles on this motherfucking x axis
  2. 2. I heard the head of Ribena is sleeping with their assistant
  3. 3. Tiberius propels boat by order of coxswain
  4. 4. Behold a roan bearing buckets
  5. 6. Military seaman stares into middle distance
  6. 7. Tautological deliverer of circulars
  7. 11. Undefeated champion faces meets competition with eyes wide open
  8. 13. Space coyote urges Homer to find his cobbler