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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000022356-03-000157.txt : 20030806
<SEC-HEADER>0000022356-03-000157.hdr.sgml : 20030806
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030806134200
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000022356-03-000157
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20021231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030806

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMERCE BANCSHARES INC /MO/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000022356
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				430889454
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 WALNUT
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64106
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8162342000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 13686
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64199

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KEMPER JONATHAN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184697

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-02989
		FILM NUMBER:		03825766

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 13686
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64199-3686
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3143011700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 13686
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64199-3686
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2002-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-02-14</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>1</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000022356</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMERCE BANCSHARES INC /MO/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBSH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184697</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KEMPER JONATHAN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 13686</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KANSAS CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>64199-3686</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2002-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>L</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>26585</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30587</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Exec Comp Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2002-09-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>L</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>116</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30703</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Exec Comp Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2002-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>L</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>116</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30819</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Exec Comp Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>764165</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>130190</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Tower Properties Co.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person acquired ownership of these shares on various dates prior to January 1, 2002, pursuant to the Issuer's Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares acquired as a result of the reinvestment of cash dividends under the Issuer's Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This amount includes the correction of 759,422 shares held in a revocable trust which were previously reported as held indirectly, and are now being reported as held directly.  Also included are 4,743 shares acquired under the Issuer's Restricted Stock Plan and held directly.  The change in the number of shares held directly is due to a change in the manner of reporting and there has been no economic change that has taken place.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reporting person owns stock of Tower Properties Co., which owns certain shares of the Issuer's stock that are attributed to the reporting person.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all of the Issuer's shares owned by Tower Properties Co.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>In 2002, the reporting person resigned from his position as trustee of the Laura K Fields Trust, which holds certan shares of the Issuer's stock that were attributed to the reporting persion under Rule 16a-8(b)(2).  The reporting person's resignation from his position as trustee eliminates that attribution, and he is no longer required to report indirect ownership of the underlying shares.

In accordance with SEC reporting rules, this amendment does not include lines of transaction or ownership information that were disclosed in the original report and are not being amended.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Jeffery D. Aberdeen For: Jonathan M. Kemper</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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