The term 'make dough' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: KNEAD (5 letters) and EARN (4 letters). Kneading is a process of working dough with the hands, usually to make bread. It involves stretching and folding the dough over itself in order to develop the gluten in the flour. Earning money is the process of gaining income through employment or investments. Together, these two solutions suggest that making dough is a metaphor for earning money.