Filed from 3 published puzzles

CLEARASMUD

Set to 3 different clues across 3 published puzzles, most often “Poorly explained” — The New York Times, Saturday, 5 March 2011.

10 letters

Every clue on record, most used first

Poorly explainedonce
The New York Times — Saturday, 5 March 2011
"Now I get it ... not!"once
The New York Times — Saturday, 9 August 2003
Like an unhelpful explanationonce
The New York Times — Friday, 9 February 2001