1. Plural of "mess": This is the most common meaning. "Messes" refers to multiple instances of something being untidy, disordered, or chaotic.
* Example: "The kids made a lot of messes while playing in the living room."
2. Third person singular present tense of "mess up": This meaning refers to someone making a mistake or causing trouble.
* Example: "He always messes up the instructions."
3. Informal slang for "messes around": This means to engage in casual or frivolous activities, often with romantic implications.
* Example: "She's been messing around with that guy from work."
4. In some dialects, "messes" can be used as a verb, meaning to cause trouble.
* Example: "Don't mess with me!" (This is a more informal usage, and might be considered slang in some regions.)
It's important to consider the context in which "messes" is used to determine its intended meaning.