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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001198272-04-000101.txt : 20041021
<SEC-HEADER>0001198272-04-000101.hdr.sgml : 20041021
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041021115024
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001198272-04-000101
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041021
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041021

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAXTER JAMESON A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193637

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05498
		FILM NUMBER:		041089066

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BAXTER ASSOCIATES INC
		STREET 2:		1250 W NORTHWEST HIGHWAY
		CITY:			PALATINE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60067

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM MASTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000830622
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				046584465
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193637</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAXTER JAMESON A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BAXTER ASSOCIATES INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1250 W NORTHWEST HIGHWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALATINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Closed-End Fund</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30.0529</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.69</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>454.529</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dividends reinvested for fiscal year ending 9/30/04</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Price as of 9/30/04</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jameson A. Baxter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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

I, 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/  Jameson A. Baxter



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