1. What do the following words have in common?

STORY
TERM
HAND

2. What do the following words have in common?

CROW
FORGE
SHOVE
CLOSE
CARES
STAMPED

HINT:
1. They can each be preceded by the same two words.
2. A single letter, placed in the same position, will change each word into a new one.

Answers:

1. Each word can be preceded by both LONG and SHORT. 

2)
CROWD
FORGET
SHOVEL
CLOSET
CARESS
STAMPEDE