-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O8XBVb6XRT36pstztZK87S2kfRFhw2XggKEVqPZ02lk3hxrIKv6ksbbMKeIH8WjW
 rPFvXt+NvYtucg+P82ciTA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001294165-04-000011.txt : 20040622
<SEC-HEADER>0001294165-04-000011.hdr.sgml : 20040622
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040622135024
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001294165-04-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040614
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040622

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM MASTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000830622
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				04658465
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172921562

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HORWITZ JONATHAN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001294165

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05498
		FILM NUMBER:		04874328

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-292-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM INVESTMENTS
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000830622</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PUTNAM MASTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pim</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001294165</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HORWITZ JONATHAN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PUTNAM INVESTMENTS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Mgr. Dir., Putnam, LLC</officerTitle>
            <otherText>Treasurer of Putnam Funds</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jonathan S. Horwitz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>horwitzconfirm.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONFIRMING STATEMENT
<TEXT>


Confirming Statement

I, Jonathan S. Horwitz, as Reporting Person of Putnam Investment
Management, LLC and/or Putnam, LLC, the Issuer's Investment Adviser and
Indirect Parent Holding Company, respectively, hereby authorize and
designate each and every Managing Director, Senior Vice President and
Vice President in the Putnam Investments Legal and Compliance
Department to file SEC Exchange Act Forms 3, 4 or 5 on my behalf until
further notice in electronic format pursuant to Rule 101(b)(4) of
Regulation S-T.

- ---------------------------

/s/  Jonathan S. Horwitz



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
