A multi-component glass which, in addition to the components TiO2 and SiO2, comprises a further component from the group consisting of glass-forming agents and/or intermediate oxides is prepared by preparing mixtures of the starting components and reacting these to give the desired compositions, or treating a green body with a suspension of the additional components and reacting it to give the desired composition. The multi-component glass can be used for the production of shaped bodies with dimensions close to the final dimensions.