Are vowel sounds the same as vowels?

No. Every vowel can have more than one sound, depending on the spelling of the Word and its historical source.

For example, the letter E can have a long sound (ee), a short sound (eh), an R-influenced sound (ir), and a schwa sound (unstressed eh or uh). Or it can be silent, which may influence the sound of other vowels.

Similarly, more than one vowel or vowel group can have the identical sound. The long A (ay) sound can be made in:

A Words - base, cake, late

AY Words - lay, may, pay

AI Words - fail, maid, plain

EI Words - veil

EIGH Words - weigh, weight, neighbor

(and the related "air" sound by EA as well)