Sentence:  The story struck the depressingly familiar <WSD>note</WSD> with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A mark or token by which a thing may be known; a visible sign; a character; a distinctive mark or feature; a characteristic quality.