diff --git a/src/__tests__/element-queries.js b/src/__tests__/element-queries.js
index 8a8bc35f..253a64a4 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/element-queries.js
+++ b/src/__tests__/element-queries.js
@@ -412,6 +412,7 @@ test('queryAllByRole returns semantic html elements', () => {
         </tbody>
       </table>
       <table role="grid"></table>
+      <div role="meter progressbar" />
       <button>Button</button>
     </form>
   `)
@@ -433,6 +434,9 @@ test('queryAllByRole returns semantic html elements', () => {
   expect(queryAllByRole(/rowgroup/i)).toHaveLength(2)
   expect(queryAllByRole(/(table)|(textbox)/i)).toHaveLength(3)
   expect(queryAllByRole(/img/i)).toHaveLength(1)
+  expect(queryAllByRole('meter')).toHaveLength(1)
+  expect(queryAllByRole('progressbar')).toHaveLength(0)
+  expect(queryAllByRole('progressbar', {queryFallbacks: true})).toHaveLength(1)
 })
 
 test('getAll* matchers return an array', () => {
@@ -471,6 +475,7 @@ test('getAll* matchers return an array', () => {
         <option value="volvo">Toyota</option>
         <option value="audi">Honda</option>
       </select>
+      <div role="meter progressbar" />
     </div>,
   `)
   expect(getAllByAltText(/finding.*poster$/i)).toHaveLength(2)
@@ -482,6 +487,8 @@ test('getAll* matchers return an array', () => {
   expect(getAllByDisplayValue(/cars$/)).toHaveLength(2)
   expect(getAllByText(/^where/i)).toHaveLength(1)
   expect(getAllByRole(/container/i)).toHaveLength(1)
+  expect(getAllByRole('meter')).toHaveLength(1)
+  expect(getAllByRole('progressbar', {queryFallbacks: true})).toHaveLength(1)
 })
 
 test('getAll* matchers throw for 0 matches', () => {
@@ -658,6 +665,18 @@ test('using jest helpers to check element role', () => {
   expect(getByRole('dialog')).toHaveTextContent('Contents')
 })
 
+test('using jest helpers to check element fallback roles', () => {
+  const {getByRole} = render(`
+    <div role="meter progressbar">
+      <span>Contents</span>
+    </div>
+  `)
+
+  expect(getByRole('progressbar', {queryFallbacks: true})).toHaveTextContent(
+    'Contents',
+  )
+})
+
 test('test the debug helper prints the dom state here', () => {
   const originalDebugPrintLimit = process.env.DEBUG_PRINT_LIMIT
   const Large = `<div>
diff --git a/src/__tests__/queries.find.js b/src/__tests__/queries.find.js
index facceba2..d3d59832 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/queries.find.js
+++ b/src/__tests__/queries.find.js
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ test('find asynchronously finds elements', async () => {
       <img alt="test alt text" src="/lucy-ricardo.png" />
       <span title="test title" />
       <div role="dialog"></div>
+      <div role="meter progressbar"></div>
     </div>
   `)
   await expect(findByLabelText('test-label')).resolves.toBeTruthy()
@@ -56,6 +57,15 @@ test('find asynchronously finds elements', async () => {
   await expect(findByRole('dialog')).resolves.toBeTruthy()
   await expect(findAllByRole('dialog')).resolves.toHaveLength(1)
 
+  await expect(findByRole('meter')).resolves.toBeTruthy()
+  await expect(findAllByRole('meter')).resolves.toHaveLength(1)
+  await expect(
+    findByRole('progressbar', {queryFallbacks: true}),
+  ).resolves.toBeTruthy()
+  await expect(
+    findAllByRole('progressbar', {queryFallbacks: true}),
+  ).resolves.toHaveLength(1)
+
   await expect(findByTestId('test-id')).resolves.toBeTruthy()
   await expect(findAllByTestId('test-id')).resolves.toHaveLength(1)
 })
diff --git a/src/queries/role.js b/src/queries/role.js
index dfc8a331..55e50e10 100644
--- a/src/queries/role.js
+++ b/src/queries/role.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ function queryAllByRole(
     hidden = getConfig().defaultHidden,
     trim,
     normalizer,
+    queryFallbacks = false,
   } = {},
 ) {
   const matcher = exact ? matches : fuzzyMatches
@@ -40,7 +41,20 @@ function queryAllByRole(
       const isRoleSpecifiedExplicitly = node.hasAttribute('role')
 
       if (isRoleSpecifiedExplicitly) {
-        return matcher(node.getAttribute('role'), node, role, matchNormalizer)
+        const roleValue = node.getAttribute('role')
+        if (queryFallbacks) {
+          return roleValue
+            .split(' ')
+            .filter(Boolean)
+            .some(text => matcher(text, node, role, matchNormalizer))
+        }
+        // if a custom normalizer is passed then let normalizer handle the role value
+        if (normalizer) {
+          return matcher(roleValue, node, role, matchNormalizer)
+        }
+        // other wise only send the first word to match
+        const [firstWord] = roleValue.split(' ')
+        return matcher(firstWord, node, role, matchNormalizer)
       }
 
       const implicitRoles = getImplicitAriaRoles(node)