Simple:
* The painter climbed the ladder to reach the top of the wall.
* He used a ladder to access the roof.
Figurative:
* The company's new CEO is climbing the corporate ladder quickly.
* After years of hard work, she finally reached the top rung of the ladder in her field.
Descriptive:
* The wooden ladder creaked ominously as he ascended.
* The fire escape ladder was rusty and unsafe.
In a story:
* She nervously clutched the ladder as the wind whipped around her, threatening to push her off the cliff.
These examples illustrate how "ladder" can be used in both literal and figurative ways, depending on the context.