“Past-tense verb that's potentially confusing (but grammatically correct!) when written twice in a row” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.HAD is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Past-tense verb that's potentially confusing (but grammatically correct!) when written twice in a row”. It was last seen in the puzzle of May 1, 2025, where it runs at 44 Across and fills 3 squares. It crosses 3 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.