The present invention is a method of generating a library of expressed cDNA sequences using multi-targeted primers that are complementary to degenerate motifs present in a large proportion of corresponding mRNA sequences. Multi-targeting priming (MTP) for genome-wide gene expression assays provides selective targeting of multiple sequences and counter-selection against undesirable sequences. Priming with MTPs in addition to oligo-dT can result in higher sensitivity, a greater number of genes whose expression is well measured, a greater number of genes whose differences in gene expression are detected to be statistically, and a greater power to detect meager differences in expression.