The word bat has two completely unrelated meanings:

1. A wooden or metal club used to hit a ball in games like baseball, cricket, or softball. Players swing the bat to try to send the ball flying across the field. A good baseball bat feels balanced in your hands, and when you connect with the ball just right, you barely feel the impact. The word also works as a verb: when it's your turn to bat in baseball, you step up to home plate with the bat in your hands, ready to swing at the pitcher's throw.
2. A small flying mammal that's active at night. Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly, using wings made of thin skin stretched between long finger bones. They navigate and hunt in complete darkness using echolocation, sending out high-pitched sounds and listening for echoes that bounce off insects and obstacles. Most bats eat insects or fruit, and despite their spooky reputation, they're helpful creatures that pollinate plants and control mosquito populations. The largest bats have wingspans over five feet, while the smallest could fit on your thumb.