Are there any verbs that accept multiple prepositions and as a result differ in meaning?

Many phrasal verbs have this great change in meaning based on the preposition. For example, the verb 'put':

  • to put on - to wear
  • to put off - to delay
  • to put up - to house
  • to put down - to insult
  • to put out - to disadvantage, to offer sex
  • to put upon - to impose

Here's a list of many such phrasal verbs showing how just changing the preposition doesn't just change the literal physical direction of the preposition) it changes the whole meaning.


One example is hit.

The man hit me.

The man hit on me.

These have different meanings. The first is obvious, but the second means that he wanted something, such as a favour, money or sex.

The references are from Lexico.