Return from work on river punt (5)

I believe the answer is:

wager

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'punt' is the definition.
(I know this)

'return from work on river' is the wordplay.
'return from work' becomes 'wage' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'river' becomes 'r' (abbreviation for river).
'wage'+'r'='WAGER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for wager that I've seen before include "A bet or stake" , "(Place a) stake" , "Bet, gamble" , "Punt" , "One making pledge" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.

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