The noun tale has 2 senses (first 2 from tagged texts)
1. (26) narrative, narration, story, tale -- (a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program; "his narrative was interesting"; "Disney's stories entertain adults as well as children")
2. (6) fib, story, tale, tarradiddle, taradiddle -- (a trivial lie; "he told a fib about eating his spinach"; "how can I stop my child from telling stories?")