CLAY

Set to 23 different clues across 24 published puzzles, most often “Ali, before he was Ali” — The New York Times, Tuesday, 15 March 2011.

4 letters

Every clue on record, most used first

Ali, before he was Ali2 times
The New York Times — Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Pottery baseonce
The New York Times — Sunday, 17 July 2011
It's moldedonce
The New York Times — Sunday, 14 March 2010
Adobe materialonce
The New York Times — Sunday, 25 January 2009
Grass alternativeonce
The New York Times — Friday, 1 December 2006
Potter's mediumonce
The New York Times — Monday, 16 October 2006
Pot compositiononce
The New York Times — Tuesday, 31 January 2006
Modeler's needonce
The New York Times — Sunday, 22 January 2006
*Trapshooting ... Ali ... kilnonce
The New York Times — Thursday, 23 May 2002
Potter's supplyonce
The New York Times — Tuesday, 25 December 2001
It might crack after getting firedonce
The New York Times — Friday, 13 April 2001
Kind of potonce
The New York Times — Thursday, 15 March 2001