1. What do the following words have in common?

ASK
ASH
OUR
OWN
UTTER

2. What do the following words have in common?

BESIDE
MISSING
STRETCHING

HINTS:
1. Each word can be preceded by the same two letters.
2. Each word can be followed by the same two words.

Answers:

1. Each word can be preceded by FL to form new words:

FLASK
FLASH
FLOUR
FLOWN
FLUTTER

2. Each word can be followed by THE POINT:

Beside the point
Missing the point
Stretching the point