tenner, tenor

The words tenner, tenor sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Why do tenner, tenor sound the same even though they are completely different words?

The answer is simple: tenner, tenor are homophones of the English language.

tenner
  1. :: noun

    Informal A ten-dollar bill.

  2. :: noun

    Chiefly British A ten-pound note.

tenor
  1. :: noun

    A continuous, unwavering course. See Synonyms at tendency.

  2. :: noun

    The word, phrase, or subject with which the vehicle of a metaphor is identified, as life in "Life's but a walking shadow” ( Shakespeare).

  3. :: noun

    The course of thought or argument running through something written or spoken.

  4. :: noun

    General sense; purport.

Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition and Wordnik.

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About Homophones

Homophones (literally "same sound") are usually defined as words that share the same pronunciation, regardless of how they are spelled.

If they are spelled the same then they are also homographs (and homonyms); if they are spelled differently then they are also heterographs (literally "different writing").