You have to use the template-module for this.
Here’s an example task:
- name: Create motd
template:
src: "motd.j2"
dest: "/etc/motd"
The file motd.j2 (placed in the templates-subdirectory of your role) could then look like this:
Welcome to host {{ansible_hostname}}!
{{ansible_hostname}} will then be replaced with the hostname.
Be sure to “gather facts” in your role, or else the variable will be empty.