What do the following words have in common that has nothing to do with their meanings?

NIT

LITE

TOLE

GENE

MODE

HINT:

A four-letter word can be added to the end of each clue word to make a new word.

Answer:

 

The word RATE can be added at the end of each clue word to form new words. (The new words are false compounds):

 

NITRATE

LITERATE

TOLERATE

GENERATE

MODERATE