diff --git a/src/canvas.class.js b/src/canvas.class.js
index 388986d4..a34aecc8 100644
--- a/src/canvas.class.js
+++ b/src/canvas.class.js
@@ -127,15 +127,16 @@
     selection:              true,
 
     /**
-     * Indicates which keys enable multiple click selection
+     * Indicates which key or keys enable multiple click selection
+     * Pass value as a string or array of strings
      * values: 'altKey', 'shiftKey', 'ctrlKey'.
      * If `null` or empty or containing any other string that is not a modifier key
      * feature is disabled.
      * @since 1.6.2
-     * @type Array
+     * @type String|Array
      * @default
      */
-    selectionKeys:           ['shiftKey'],
+    selectionKey:           'shiftKey',
 
     /**
      * Indicates which key enable alternative selection
@@ -507,6 +508,24 @@
       return isTransparent;
     },
 
+    /**
+     * takes an event and determins if selection key has been pressed
+     * @private
+     * @param {Event} e Event object
+     */
+    _isSelectionKeyPressed: function(e) {
+      var selectionKeyPressed = false;
+
+      if (Object.prototype.toString.call(this.selectionKey) === '[object Array]') {
+        selectionKeyPressed = !!this.selectionKey.find(function(key) { return e[key] === true; });
+      }
+      else {
+        selectionKeyPressed = e[this.selectionKey];
+      }
+
+      return selectionKeyPressed;
+    },
+
     /**
      * @private
      * @param {Event} e Event object
@@ -516,16 +535,6 @@
       var activeObjects = this.getActiveObjects(),
           activeObject = this._activeObject;
 
-      var selectionKeyPressed = false;
-      if (Array.isArray(this.selectionKeys)){
-        selectionKeyPressed = this.selectionKeys.some(function (selectionKey) {
-          return e[selectionKey];
-        });
-      }
-      else if (e[this.selectionKeys.toString()]){
-        selectionKeyPressed = true;
-      }
-
       return (
         !target
         ||
@@ -534,7 +543,7 @@
           activeObjects.length > 1 &&
           activeObjects.indexOf(target) === -1 &&
           activeObject !== target &&
-          !selectionKeyPressed)
+          !this._isSelectionKeyPressed(e))
         ||
         (target && !target.evented)
         ||
diff --git a/src/mixins/canvas_grouping.mixin.js b/src/mixins/canvas_grouping.mixin.js
index 2ef89d72..9806b6e1 100644
--- a/src/mixins/canvas_grouping.mixin.js
+++ b/src/mixins/canvas_grouping.mixin.js
@@ -14,17 +14,7 @@
     _shouldGroup: function(e, target) {
       var activeObject = this._activeObject;
 
-      var selectionKeyPressed = false;
-      if (Array.isArray(this.selectionKeys)){
-        selectionKeyPressed = this.selectionKeys.some(function (selectionKey) {
-          return e[selectionKey];
-        });
-      }
-      else if (e[this.selectionKeys.toString()]){
-        selectionKeyPressed = true;
-      }
-
-      return activeObject && selectionKeyPressed && target && target.selectable && this.selection &&
+      return activeObject && this._isSelectionKeyPressed(e) && target && target.selectable && this.selection &&
             (activeObject !== target || activeObject.type === 'activeSelection');
     },