In this word riddle, what has both a head and a tail but no body at all?

Introduction / Context:
This is another classic riddle that relies on multiple meanings of the words head and tail. When we hear these words, we usually think of animals or human figures. However, in everyday language, head and tail are also used to describe the two sides of a coin. The riddle demands that the object has a head and a tail but no body, which implies that we must look beyond living creatures and consider objects for which head and tail are conventional labels. This type of puzzle is common in verbal reasoning because it checks flexibility in language understanding.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The object has a head. - The same object has a tail. - The object has no body at all. - The terms head and tail might refer to named sides or ends, not necessarily to an animal. - We are to pick the option that fits all three conditions exactly.

Concept / Approach:
The well known expression heads or tails is used when flipping coins. One side of a coin usually bears a head, often of a national leader or symbol, and the other side is called the tail. A coin has two sides called head and tail but does not have a physical body like an animal. Other options such as lizard or snake have heads and tails but also have bodies, so they do not satisfy the no body requirement. Recognizing that the riddle plays on this idiom leads directly to the coin as the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List the options and note which ones are living creatures: comet is not, lizard and snake are, a kite is an object, and a coin is an object. Step 2: Living animals like lizards and snakes clearly have physical bodies in addition to heads and tails, so they cannot match no body. Step 3: Consider a comet. It is sometimes described with a head and tail in astronomy, but this is a less common association for most learners and the comet clearly has an extended structure. Step 4: Consider a kite. It has a tail if it is designed with one, but does not usually have something called a head in everyday language. Step 5: Think of a coin and the phrase heads or tails used when tossing one. Step 6: Understand that the side bearing a portrait or emblem is called the head, and the opposite side is called the tail. Step 7: Notice that a coin is a flat object with no body part; it has two sides but no body in the sense of an animal or person. Step 8: Therefore, a coin is the only option that has a head and a tail but no body.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, imagine someone saying Let us flip a coin; heads you win, tails I win. This demonstrates how strongly the association between heads and tails and coins is established in everyday speech. By contrast, people do not usually talk about the head and tail of a kite or the heads or tails of other objects in such a fixed phrase. This confirms that the riddle is almost certainly referencing the common coin tossing expression and that coin is the intended solution.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A lizard and a snake both have bodies, which contradicts the no body clue. A comet has a head and tail in some descriptions, but this is a specialised astronomical usage and the comet clearly has an elongated physical structure. A kite may have a tail, but most people would not describe it as having a head. None of these alternatives matches all three clues as cleanly and universally as a coin does, making them incorrect answers in the context of the riddle.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to focus only on the first two clues and pick an animal that has a head and a tail without noticing the crucial no body condition. Another is to overthink the puzzle and look for obscure scientific metaphors. The safer strategy is to recall familiar idioms such as heads or tails that directly mention both words. Recognizing that the riddle is more about language usage than biology helps you quickly reach the correct and simple answer.

Final Answer:
The thing that has a head and a tail but no body is a coin.