MFS SERIES TRUST III
NSAR-A, 1998-09-30
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 07/31/98
000 C000000 0000225604
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 MFS SERIES TRUST III
001 B000000 811-2794
001 C000000 6179545000
002 A000000 500 BOYLSTON STREET
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02116
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000  3
007 C010100  1
007 C020100 MFS HIGH INCOME FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200  2
007 C020200 MFS MUNICIPAL HIGH INCOME FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300  3
007 C020300 MFS HIGH YIELD OPPORTUNITIES FUND
007 C030300 N
007 C010400  4
007 C010500  5
007 C010600  6
007 C010700  7
007 C010800  8
007 C010900  9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICE COMPANY
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-17352
008 D01AA01 BOSTON
008 D02AA01 MA
008 D03AA01 02116
010 A00AA01 MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
010 B00AA01 801-17352
010 C01AA01 BOSTON
010 C02AA01 MA
010 C03AA01 02116
011 A00AA01 MFS FUND DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-27864
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
011 C01AA01 BOSTON
011 C02AA01 MA
011 C03AA01 02116
012 A00AA01 MFS SERVICE CENTER, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-1316
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
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019 C00AA00 MASSFINSER
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020 A000002 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
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022 A000006 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES
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<PAGE>      PAGE  3
022 A000007 BEAR STEARNS & CO, INC.
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022 A000008 MORGAN STANLEY
022 B000008 13-2655998
022 C000008     75172
022 D000008     48082
022 A000009 NATIONS BANK
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022 A000010 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
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<PAGE>      PAGE  4
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<PAGE>      PAGE  5
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<PAGE>      PAGE  6
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<PAGE>      PAGE  7
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<PAGE>      PAGE  8
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<PAGE>      PAGE  9
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<PAGE>      PAGE  10
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<PAGE>      PAGE  11
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<PAGE>      PAGE  13
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<PAGE>      PAGE  14
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<PAGE>      PAGE  15
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<PAGE>      PAGE  16
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<PAGE>      PAGE  18
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SIGNATURE   ELLEN MOYNIHAN                               
TITLE       ASSISTANT TREASURER 
 


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 031
   <NAME> MFS HIGH YIELD OPPORTUNITIES FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 032
   <NAME> MFS HIGH YIELD OPPORTUNITIES FUND CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1998
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 033
   <NAME> MFS HIGH YIELD OPPORTUNITIES FUND CLASS C
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          2495075
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         2471617
<RECEIVABLES>                                   474387
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<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 034
   <NAME> MFS HIGH YIELD OPPORTUNITIES FUND CLASS I
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1998
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<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 011
   <NAME> MFS HIGH INCOME FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1998
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 012
   <NAME> MFS HIGH INCOME FUND CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1998
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 013
   <NAME> MFS HIGH INCOME FUND CLASS C
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1998
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 014
   <NAME> MFS HIGH INCOME FUND CLASS I
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       1309042653
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> MFS MUNICIPAL HIGH INCOME FUND CLASS A
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<S>                             <C>
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 022
   <NAME> MFS MUNICIPAL HIGH INCOME FUND CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
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</TABLE>


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