Analogies can be used for descriptive and explanatory purposes as well as for arguing for a conclusion. Arguments by analogy are inductive.

Example:

The art of reasoning is a skill, like knowing how to play tennis; and you can't learn to play tennis just by reading a book. No matter how much you know about the theory of the game, you can't acquire the skill without actually playing; so you need to practice.

In this argument, I am using an analogy as a premise; I am trying to prove a conclusion.