gistfile1.txt

- hosts: localhost
  connection: local
  gather_facts: false
  vars:
    things:
        - "{{ foo }}"
        - "{{ foob }}"
    foo: "Hello"
  tasks:
    - name: debug things
      debug: var=things

    - debug: var="{{ item }}"
      with_items: things 

    - name: "things with_items"
      template: src=templates/test.j2 dest=/tmp/{{ item}}.txt
      with_items: things
      ignore_errors: True

    - name: "things with_items2"
      template: src=templates/test.j2 dest=/tmp/{{ item}}.txt
      with_items: "{{things}}"
      ignore_errors: True

    - name: "things direct template reference"
      template: src=templates/test.j2 dest=/tmp/things.txt
      ignore_errors: True