We consider a nonlinear periodic problem driven by a nonhomogeneous differential operator and a Carathéodory reaction. We show that it has at least three solutions, two of constant sign and the third nodal. In the particular case of the scalar p−Laplacian and with a parametric reaction of equidiffusive type, we show that three solutions with precise sign exist if the parameter λ > λ1(p) = the first nonzero eigenvalue of the periodic scalar Laplacian. Finally, in the semilinear case (p = 2), we show that there is a second nodal solution, for a total of four nontrivial solutions all with sign information. Mathematics Subject Classification. 34B15, 34B18, 34C25, 58E05.