..... i thought it was easy.....
....but it never was
A three-letter word for chess pieces is "men."
funk
backtrack
asterisk
* Auk * Elk * Yak
alkylketalkevelkneelknellknollknurlkraalkrillskillskirlskullvakilyokel
amuck
squawkstreak
duck
Kangaroos
kitty
knuckle