LADYBUG

Set to 3 different clues across 3 published puzzles, most often “Spotted beetle” — The New York Times, Tuesday, 22 January 2002.

7 letters

Every clue on record, most used first

Spotted beetleonce
The New York Times — Tuesday, 22 January 2002
Word repeated in a children's rhymeonce
The New York Times — Wednesday, 5 March 1997
It's spotted in a gardenonce
The New York Times — Wednesday, 31 July 1996