Works steadily at making piles (5)
I believe the answer is:
plies
'works steadily' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'making piles' is the wordplay.
'making' indicates an anagram.
'piles' anagrammed gives 'PLIES'.
'at' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for plies that I've seen before include "Works steadily -- ballet steps" , "Works steadily (at trade)" .)