Spacey, 62, was also charged with causing a person to engage in penetrating sexual activity without consent, police said.
The plaintiff will appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Thursday.
The charges relate to two alleged incidents in London in 2005, two more in 2008 and another incident in Gloucestershire in 2013.
The alleged victim of the 2005 incidents is now about 40 years old, while the two men allegedly involved in the 2008 and 2013 incidents are now about 30 years old, the force said.
The decision to formally charge Spacey came after “a review by the Crown Prosecutor’s Office of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation,” police added.
The British Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorized charges against the plaintiff last month, but the charges could not be formally applied until it was in the UK.
Following CPS clearance, Spacey had said he intended to travel to the UK to deny the charges, according to a statement released to Good Morning America by British news agency PA Media.
“Although I am disappointed with his decision to move forward, I will voluntarily file in the UK as soon as I can agree and defend myself against these charges, which I am sure will prove my innocence,” the statement said.
Spacey has won two Academy Awards for her roles in “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty,” and was artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theater from 2003 to 2015.
He also starred in the Netflix political series “House of Cards” and returned to acting last year.
CNN’s Rob Picheta contributed to this report.