1. Showing an exception:
* "Everyone was happy, except for John, who seemed to be in a bad mood."
* "I've finished all my homework, except for the math assignment."
2. Meaning "but":
* "I would love to go, except I have a prior commitment."
* "The weather was perfect, except for a little wind."
3. Meaning "other than":
* "There's nothing in the fridge except for some milk."
* "I don't like anything on my pizza except for pepperoni."
4. As a preposition:
* "Everyone went to the party, except for Sarah."
* "He could do anything except for sing."
5. As a conjunction:
* "I'm ready to go, except that I need to find my keys."
* "The house was perfect, except that it was too small for our family."
Remember that the meaning of "except" can vary depending on the context. It's always best to consider the surrounding words to understand its intended meaning.