Question: I want to tell someone the following:  

"I bring an e-reader with me on the bus every day so that I have something to do during my commute to work."  

Does the phrase "commute to work" clearly refer to the trip there **and** the trip back from work? Or is it more proper to say "commute to and from work" in order to ensure that it is clear that I mean both directions?

Answer: 
Using the word 'to' adds a sense of direction (that being towards place of work).

I would use:

> 
> "my daily commute"
> 
> 
> 

since the word [commute](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commuting) already describes the travel between work.
No, it does not clearly refer to the trip both ways. I would understand it to be only the trip to work, or possibly to be unspecific about whether the return trip is included. If you need to be clear on this, you would have to specify that you actually mean both ways.