sponger vs leech

sponger and leech both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
sponger	Yes	No	No	No
leech	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, sponger and leech are synonyms defined as:

sponger and leech: a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage

Other synonyms of sponger include parasite, sponge.

sponger (noun)	leech (noun)
a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage	carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end
a workman employed to collect sponges	a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage

sponger (verb)	leech (verb)
	draw blood