1. To discipline or to chastise someone for a misconductr: Janet stole some money from her mother's purse, and when her mother discovered this, Janet was punished for this wrongdoing.
2. To force a person to undergo a penalty: Joe was punished by the judge for dumping his garbage on a park fence and had to do community service for six months!
3. To beat severely, to maul: Evidently the poor dog had been punished terribly and had to be operated on in the animal hospital.