MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND INC
NSAR-A, 1998-02-26
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 12/31/97
000 C000000 0000225635
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
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000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-2688
001 C000000 6092822800
002 A000000 P.O. BOX 9011
002 B000000 PRINCETON
002 C000000 NJ
002 D010000 08543
002 D020000 9011
003  000000 N
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007 C010100  1
007 C020100 NATIONAL PORTFOLIO
007 C030100 N
007 C010200  2
007 C020200 INSURED PORTFOLIO
007 C030200 N
007 C010300  3
007 C020300 LIMITED MATURITY PORTFOLIO
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008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-12485
008 D01AA01 PRINCETON
008 D02AA01 NJ
008 D03AA01 08543
008 D04AA01 9011
011 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-14663
011 C01AA01 PRINCETON
011 C02AA01 NJ
011 C03AA01 08543
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
011 C04AA01 9011
012 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-01339
012 C01AA01 JACKSONVILLE
012 C02AA01 FL
012 C03AA01 32246
012 C04AA01 6484
013 A00AA01 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B01AA01 PRINCETON
013 B02AA01 NJ
013 B03AA01 08540
014 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
014 B00AA01 8-7221
015 A00AA01 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 NEW YORK
015 C02AA01 NY
015 C03AA01 10286
015 E01AA01 X
015 A00AA02 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA02 S
015 C01AA02 NEW YORK
015 C02AA02 NY
015 C03AA02 10006
015 E01AA02 X
015 A00AA03 DELETE
015 A00AA04 CUSTODIAL TRUST CO.
015 B00AA04 S
015 C01AA04 NEW YORK
015 C02AA04 NY
015 C03AA04 10167
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015 A00AA05 MORGAN GUARANTEE TRUST CO.
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022 A000008 OPPENHEIMER & CO., INC.
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SIGNATURE   GERALD M. RICHARD                            
TITLE       TREASURER           
 


<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000225635
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 011
   <NAME> NATIONAL PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
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   <NAME> NATIONAL PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000225635
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
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   <NUMBER> 013
   <NAME> NATIONAL PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225635
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
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   <NUMBER> 014
   <NAME> NATIONAL PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225635
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
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   <NAME> INSURED PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225635
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
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   <NUMBER> 023
   <NAME> INSURED PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225635
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000225635
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
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   <NAME> LIMITED MATURITY PORTFOLIO
       
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<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<TABLE> <S> <C>

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