-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SMCTN2/VpfrEG12P/VuczF2Xv9rrrBs6k+LlS4zO6R4XhLnXNSMRX7O5XzxdkjQV
 vqAnA8y6fRTtkYF1pcf4Vg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000022356-08-000094.txt : 20080804
<SEC-HEADER>0000022356-08-000094.hdr.sgml : 20080804
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080804135408
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000022356-08-000094
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080731
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080804
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080804

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 419248
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64141-6248

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRANT W THOMAS II
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184696

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-02989
		FILM NUMBER:		08987466

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-07-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184696</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRANT W THOMAS II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WALNUT ST., 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KANSAS CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>64106</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>155</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9946</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares purchased under Commerce Bancshares, Inc. stock purchase plan for non-employee directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Jeffery Aberdeen  For: W. Thomas Grant II</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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