diff --git a/django/template/base.py b/django/template/base.py
index a3182ea7044..2f30d5fe7a3 100644
--- a/django/template/base.py
+++ b/django/template/base.py
@@ -354,10 +354,10 @@ class Lexer:
         in_tag = False
         lineno = 1
         result = []
-        for bit in tag_re.split(self.template_string):
-            if bit:
-                result.append(self.create_token(bit, None, lineno, in_tag))
-                lineno += bit.count('\n')
+        for token_string in tag_re.split(self.template_string):
+            if token_string:
+                result.append(self.create_token(token_string, None, lineno, in_tag))
+                lineno += token_string.count('\n')
             in_tag = not in_tag
         return result