Prepositions:
* Purpose: This is the most common meaning. It indicates the reason or purpose for something.
* "I went to the store for milk." (The reason for going to the store was to buy milk.)
* "He works hard for his family." (His reason for working hard is to provide for his family.)
* Duration: It can indicate the length of time something lasts.
* "I've been living in this apartment for two years."
* "They waited for hours."
* Direction: It can indicate movement towards a destination or a specific point.
* "The bus is leaving for the airport."
* "She walked for miles."
* Recipient: It can be used to indicate who something is intended for.
* "This gift is for you."
* "I wrote this letter for my grandmother."
* Exchange: It can indicate a trade or exchange.
* "I'll trade you my apple for your orange."
* "He sold his car for $5,000."
Conjunctions:
* Because: "I couldn't go out for it was raining." (This means "because it was raining.")
Other uses:
* Emphasis: Sometimes used to emphasize a point.
* "I told you for the last time!"
* Expletive: Used as a filler word in some dialects.
* "For goodness sake!"
To understand the specific meaning of "for" in a sentence, you need to consider the context.
Let me know if you want specific examples for any of these meanings or want to explore other uses of "for"!