sponge

(countable) Any of various marine invertebrates of the phylum Porifera, that have a porous skeleton often of silica.

(countable) A piece of porous material used for washing (originally made from the invertebrates, now often made of plastic).

(uncountable) A porous material such as sponges consist of.

(informal) A heavy drinker.

(countable, uncountable) A type of light cake.

(countable, uncountable, Britain) A type of steamed pudding.

(slang) A person who takes advantage of the generosity of others (abstractly imagined to absorb or soak up the money or efforts of others like a sponge).

A person who readily absorbs ideas.

(countable) A form of contraception that is inserted vaginally; a contraceptive sponge.

(baking) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the agency of the yeast or leaven.

Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.

Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.

A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped nap, and having a handle, or staff.

The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, corresponding to the heel.

(slang) A nuclear power plant worker routinely exposed to radiation.