Why does the verb 'get' have so many meanings? Well, it's the economy of language. "Get" is one of the most useful verbs you can find in English, but also one of the most complex because the meaning often depends on the context. So, don't stress too much, and look at the whole context - that's exactly what native speakers do. :)

I think this is true in many languages, especially with some of the short, basic words. My Spanish dictionary is showing eight different definitions of "tener," one of "tenerse," and six phrases in which it has a special meaning, "tener por," "tener que," and it's just a small Diccionario Escolar. It may seem unfair, and it means that learning a language is more difficult than it seems at first. It's just the way it is.

In my opinion, it is not very useful to analyse this problem like this : how can I understand the usages of the word "to get"? Though it is understandable to do this, you may get confused! It is better to learn the different meanings of "get" (and the phrasal verbs with "get") as you encounter them in real contexts. One thing I do with Spanish and Italian speaking students is to teach some phrasal verbs with a close synonym which has a Latin origin. e.g. turn into = transform into. This can help a little to remind yourself of the meaning.

Don't freak out:) http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/get