sole

The modern English word 'sole' represents a fascinating convergence of three distinct etymological streams. The noun meaning the bottom of the foot or shoe derives from Latin solea, meaning 'sandal, bottom of a shoe', itself from solum, 'bottom, ground'. The fish name comes from the same Latin solea, likely due to the fish's flat, sandal-like shape. The adjective meaning 'single, only' has a separate origin, entering English from Old French sol, which descended from Latin solus, meaning 'alone, single'. These homographs from different Latin roots merged in Middle English, creating a single lexical form with multiple, unrelated senses.

This word is a simplex form. Its different meanings originate from distinct historical sources that have converged into the same modern spelling and pronunciation.