diff --git a/src/cdk/collections/selection.spec.ts b/src/cdk/collections/selection.spec.ts
index 146758053499..024192f97713 100644
--- a/src/cdk/collections/selection.spec.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/collections/selection.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {SelectionModel} from './selection';
+import {getMultipleValuesInSingleSelectionError, SelectionModel} from './selection';
 
 
 describe('SelectionModel', () => {
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ describe('SelectionModel', () => {
       expect(model.isSelected(2)).toBe(true);
     });
 
+    it('should throw an error if multiple values are passed to model', () => {
+      expect(() => model.select(1, 2)).toThrow(getMultipleValuesInSingleSelectionError());
+    });
+
     it('should only preselect one value', () => {
       model = new SelectionModel(false, [1, 2]);
 
@@ -36,13 +40,29 @@ describe('SelectionModel', () => {
 
     beforeEach(() => model = new SelectionModel(true));
 
-    it('should be able to select multiple options at the same time', () => {
+    it('should be able to select multiple options', () => {
+      const onChangeSpy = jasmine.createSpy('onChange spy');
+
+      model.onChange!.subscribe(onChangeSpy);
       model.select(1);
       model.select(2);
 
       expect(model.selected.length).toBe(2);
       expect(model.isSelected(1)).toBe(true);
       expect(model.isSelected(2)).toBe(true);
+      expect(onChangeSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    });
+
+    it('should be able to select multiple options at the same time', () => {
+      const onChangeSpy = jasmine.createSpy('onChange spy');
+
+      model.onChange!.subscribe(onChangeSpy);
+      model.select(1, 2);
+
+      expect(model.selected.length).toBe(2);
+      expect(model.isSelected(1)).toBe(true);
+      expect(model.isSelected(2)).toBe(true);
+      expect(onChangeSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     });
 
     it('should be able to preselect multiple options', () => {
diff --git a/src/cdk/collections/selection.ts b/src/cdk/collections/selection.ts
index b2c199cfc9ef..722cc16c1717 100644
--- a/src/cdk/collections/selection.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/collections/selection.ts
@@ -56,16 +56,18 @@ export class SelectionModel<T> {
   /**
    * Selects a value or an array of values.
    */
-  select(value: T): void {
-    this._markSelected(value);
+  select(...values: T[]): void {
+    this._verifyValueAssignment(values);
+    values.forEach(value => this._markSelected(value));
     this._emitChangeEvent();
   }
 
   /**
    * Deselects a value or an array of values.
    */
-  deselect(value: T): void {
-    this._unmarkSelected(value);
+  deselect(...values: T[]): void {
+    this._verifyValueAssignment(values);
+    values.forEach(value => this._unmarkSelected(value));
     this._emitChangeEvent();
   }
 
@@ -162,6 +164,16 @@ export class SelectionModel<T> {
       this._selection.forEach(value => this._unmarkSelected(value));
     }
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Verifies the value assignment and throws an error if the specified value array is
+   * including multiple values while the selection model is not supporting multiple values.
+   */
+  private _verifyValueAssignment(values: T[]) {
+    if (values.length > 1 && !this._isMulti) {
+      throw getMultipleValuesInSingleSelectionError();
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -171,3 +183,11 @@ export class SelectionModel<T> {
 export class SelectionChange<T> {
   constructor(public added?: T[], public removed?: T[]) { }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Returns an error that reports that multiple values are passed into a selection model
+ * with a single value.
+ */
+export function getMultipleValuesInSingleSelectionError() {
+  return Error('Cannot pass multiple values into SelectionModel with single-value mode.');
+}