Writers often create confusion by placing the word 'only' incorrectly in a sentence. It should go immediately before the word or phrase it modifies.
‘I lost my only shirt.’ means that I had only one shirt to begin with.
‘I lost only my shirt.’ means I didn't lose anything else.
‘Only I lost my shirt.’ means that I was the only person in my group to lose a shirt.
‘I only lost my shirt.’ In common speech this is usually understood as being identical with 'I lost only my shirt'. Although strictly speaking, ‘I only lost my shirt’ means I didn't destroy it or have it stolen, I only lost it.
Scrutinize your use and placement of 'only' to make sure you are not creating unwanted ambiguities.