Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
只 shows a child's body 只 without 口 with 口 mouth open in a cry. That gave the first meaning 'to cry, wail'. Read zhǐ, 'only' was borrowed for its sound. Read zhī, 'single' was borrowed too, and it grew into a measure word for animals and one of a pair.
Drawn as: child body; open mouth
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