This paper deals with eigenvalue problems of the form where 0 < σ < τ and V(x) is such that the spectrum of −u″ consists of eigenvalues λ1, λ2,…situated below the continuous spectrum [δ,+∞[.

We analyse the existence of (multiple) solutions for λ < λ1 as well as for λ > λ1 when λ is in a spectral lacuna.

The existence of solutions depends on the weight of μ > 0. Moreover, when λ increases (while μ is kept fixed), some solutions are lost when crossing eigenvalues.

The above results are derived with the help of an abstract approach based on variational techniques for multiple solutions. This approach can even be applied to a wider class of problems, the one presented herein being only a model problem.