diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gce_tag.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gce_tag.py
index 7122a2398a0..03afa025d0b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gce_tag.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gce_tag.py
@@ -22,17 +22,25 @@ DOCUMENTATION = '''
 ---
 module: gce_tag
 version_added: "2.0"
-short_description: add or remove tag(s) to/from GCE instance
+short_description: add or remove tag(s) to/from GCE instances
 description:
-    - This module can add or remove tags U(https://cloud.google.com/compute/docs/instances/#tags)
-      to/from GCE instance.
+    - This module can add or remove tags U(https://cloud.google.com/compute/docs/label-or-tag-resources#tags)
+      to/from GCE instances.  Use 'instance_pattern' to update multiple instances in a specify zone
 options:
   instance_name:
     description:
-      - the name of the GCE instance to add/remove tags
-    required: true
+      - The name of the GCE instance to add/remove tags.  Required if instance_pattern is not specified.
+    required: false
     default: null
     aliases: []
+  instance_pattern:
+    description:
+      - The pattern of GCE instance names to match for adding/removing tags.  Full-Python regex is supported. See U(https://docs.python.org/2/library/re.html) for details.
+        If instance_name is not specified, this field is required.
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "2.3"
   tags:
     description:
       - comma-separated list of tags to add or remove
@@ -73,8 +81,12 @@ options:
 
 requirements:
     - "python >= 2.6"
-    - "apache-libcloud"
-author: "Do Hoang Khiem (dohoangkhiem@gmail.com)"
+    - "apache-libcloud >= 0.17.0"
+notes:
+ - Either I(instance_name) or I(instance_pattern) is required.
+author:
+ - Do Hoang Khiem (dohoangkhiem@gmail.com)
+ - Tom Melendez (@supertom)
 '''
 
 EXAMPLES = '''
@@ -91,7 +103,16 @@ EXAMPLES = '''
     tags: foo,bar
     state: absent
 
+# Add tags 'foo', 'bar' to instances in zone that match pattern
+- gce_tag:
+    instance_pattern: test-server-*
+    tags: foo,bar
+    zone: us-central1-a
+    state: present
+
 '''
+import re
+import traceback
 
 try:
     from libcloud.compute.types import Provider
@@ -107,38 +128,40 @@ except ImportError:
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.gce import gce_connect
 
+def _union_items(baselist, comparelist):
+    """Combine two lists, removing duplicates."""
+    return list(set(baselist) | set(comparelist))
 
-def add_tags(gce, module, instance_name, tags):
-    """Add tags to instance."""
-    zone = module.params.get('zone')
+def _intersect_items(baselist, comparelist):
+    """Return matching items in both lists."""
+    return list(set(baselist) & set(comparelist))
 
-    if not instance_name:
-        module.fail_json(msg='Must supply instance_name', changed=False)
+def _get_changed_items(baselist, comparelist):
+    """Return changed items as they relate to baselist."""
+    return list(set(baselist) & set(set(baselist) ^ set(comparelist)))
 
-    if not tags:
-        module.fail_json(msg='Must supply tags', changed=False)
+def modify_tags(gce, module, node, tags, state='present'):
+    """Modify tags on an instance."""
 
+    zone = node.extra['zone'].name
+    existing_tags = node.extra['tags']
     tags = [x.lower() for x in tags]
-
-    try:
-        node = gce.ex_get_node(instance_name, zone=zone)
-    except ResourceNotFoundError:
-        module.fail_json(msg='Instance %s not found in zone %s' % (instance_name, zone), changed=False)
-    except GoogleBaseError as e:
-        module.fail_json(msg=str(e), changed=False)
-
-    node_tags = node.extra['tags']
-    changed = False
     tags_changed = []
 
-    for t in tags:
-        if t not in node_tags:
-            changed = True
-            node_tags.append(t)
-            tags_changed.append(t)
-
-    if not changed:
-        return False, None
+    if state == 'absent':
+        # tags changed are any that intersect
+        tags_changed = _intersect_items(existing_tags, tags)
+        if not tags_changed:
+            return False, None
+        # update instance with tags in existing tags that weren't specified
+        node_tags = _get_changed_items(existing_tags, tags)
+    else:
+        # tags changed are any that in the new list that weren't in existing
+        tags_changed = _get_changed_items(tags, existing_tags)
+        if not tags_changed:
+            return False, None
+        # update instance with the combined list
+        node_tags = _union_items(existing_tags, tags)
 
     try:
         gce.ex_set_node_tags(node, node_tags)
@@ -146,87 +169,70 @@ def add_tags(gce, module, instance_name, tags):
     except (GoogleBaseError, InvalidRequestError) as e:
         module.fail_json(msg=str(e), changed=False)
 
-
-def remove_tags(gce, module, instance_name, tags):
-    """Remove tags from instance."""
-    zone = module.params.get('zone')
-
-    if not instance_name:
-        module.fail_json(msg='Must supply instance_name', changed=False)
-
-    if not tags:
-        module.fail_json(msg='Must supply tags', changed=False)
-
-    tags = [x.lower() for x in tags]
-
-    try:
-        node = gce.ex_get_node(instance_name, zone=zone)
-    except ResourceNotFoundError:
-        module.fail_json(msg='Instance %s not found in zone %s' % (instance_name, zone), changed=False)
-    except GoogleBaseError as e:
-        module.fail_json(msg=str(e), changed=False)
-
-    node_tags = node.extra['tags']
-
-    changed = False
-    tags_changed = []
-
-    for t in tags:
-        if t in node_tags:
-            node_tags.remove(t)
-            changed = True
-            tags_changed.append(t)
-
-    if not changed:
-        return False, None
-
-    try:
-        gce.ex_set_node_tags(node, node_tags)
-        return True, tags_changed
-    except (GoogleBaseError, InvalidRequestError) as e:
-        module.fail_json(msg=str(e), changed=False)
-
-
 def main():
     module = AnsibleModule(
         argument_spec=dict(
-            instance_name=dict(required=True),
-            tags=dict(type='list'),
+            instance_name=dict(required=False),
+            instance_pattern=dict(required=False),
+            tags=dict(type='list', required=True),
             state=dict(default='present', choices=['present', 'absent']),
             zone=dict(default='us-central1-a'),
             service_account_email=dict(),
             pem_file=dict(type='path'),
             project_id=dict(),
-        )
+        ),
+         mutually_exclusive=[
+             [ 'instance_name', 'instance_pattern' ]
+         ],
+        required_one_of=[
+             [ 'instance_name', 'instance_pattern' ]
+         ]
     )
 
-    if not HAS_LIBCLOUD:
-        module.fail_json(msg='libcloud with GCE support is required.')
-
     instance_name = module.params.get('instance_name')
+    instance_pattern = module.params.get('instance_pattern')
     state = module.params.get('state')
     tags = module.params.get('tags')
     zone = module.params.get('zone')
     changed = False
 
-    if not zone:
-        module.fail_json(msg='Must specify "zone"', changed=False)
-
-    if not tags:
-        module.fail_json(msg='Must specify "tags"', changed=False)
+    if not HAS_LIBCLOUD:
+        module.fail_json(msg='libcloud with GCE support (0.17.0+) required for this module')
 
     gce = gce_connect(module)
 
-    # add tags to instance.
-    if state == 'present':
-        changed, tags_changed = add_tags(gce, module, instance_name, tags)
-
-    # remove tags from instance
-    if state == 'absent':
-        changed, tags_changed = remove_tags(gce, module, instance_name, tags)
-
-    module.exit_json(changed=changed, instance_name=instance_name, tags=tags_changed, zone=zone)
+    # Create list of nodes to operate on
+    matching_nodes = []
+    try:
+        if instance_pattern:
+            instances = gce.list_nodes(ex_zone=zone)
+            # no instances in zone
+            if not instances:
+                module.exit_json(changed=False, tags=tags, zone=zone, instances_updated=[])
+            try:
+                # Python regex fully supported: https://docs.python.org/2/library/re.html
+                p = re.compile(instance_pattern)
+                matching_nodes = [i for i in instances if p.search(i.name) is not None]
+            except re.error as e:
+                module.fail_json(msg='Regex error for pattern %s: %s' % (instance_pattern, e), changed=False)
+        else:
+            matching_nodes = [gce.ex_get_node(instance_name, zone=zone)]
+    except ResourceNotFoundError:
+        module.fail_json(msg='Instance %s not found in zone %s' % (instance_name, zone), changed=False)
+    except GoogleBaseError as e:
+       module.fail_json(msg=str(e), changed=False, exception=traceback.format_exc())
 
+    # Tag nodes
+    instance_pattern_matches = []
+    tags_changed = []
+    for node in matching_nodes:
+        changed, tags_changed = modify_tags(gce, module, node, tags, state)
+        if changed:
+            instance_pattern_matches.append({'instance_name': node.name, 'tags_changed': tags_changed})
+    if instance_pattern:
+        module.exit_json(changed=changed, instance_pattern=instance_pattern, tags=tags_changed, zone=zone, instances_updated=instance_pattern_matches)
+    else:
+        module.exit_json(changed=changed, instance_name=instance_name, tags=tags_changed, zone=zone)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()
diff --git a/test/integration/roles/test_gce_tag/tasks/test.yml b/test/integration/roles/test_gce_tag/tasks/test.yml
index a717f0f8211..4d475c07e72 100644
--- a/test/integration/roles/test_gce_tag/tasks/test.yml
+++ b/test/integration/roles/test_gce_tag/tasks/test.yml
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 
 ## Parameter checking tests ##
 # ============================================================
-- name: "test missing param: instance_name"
+- name: "test missing param: instance_name or instance_pattern"
   gce_tag:
     service_account_email: "{{ service_account_email }}"
     pem_file: "{{ pem_file }}"
     project_id: "{{ project_id }}"
+    tags: foo,bar
   register: result
   ignore_errors: true
   tags:
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
        - 'result.failed'
-       - 'result.msg == "missing required arguments: instance_name"'
+       - 'result.msg == "one of the following is required: instance_name,instance_pattern"'
 
 
 # ============================================================
@@ -36,8 +37,27 @@
   assert:
     that:
        - 'result.failed'
-       - 'result.msg == "Must specify \"tags\""'
+       - 'result.msg == "missing required arguments: tags"'
 
+# ============================================================
+- name: "test bad regex: instance_pattern"
+  gce_tag:
+    service_account_email: "{{ service_account_email }}"
+    pem_file: "{{ pem_file }}"
+    project_id: "{{ project_id }}"
+    zone: "{{ zone }}"
+    tags: foo,bar
+    instance_pattern: "&23424--["
+  register: result
+  ignore_errors: true
+  tags:
+    - param-check
+
+- name: "assert failure when instance_pattern is invalid"
+  assert:
+    that:
+       - 'result.failed'
+       - 'result.msg == "Regex error for pattern &23424--[: unexpected end of regular expression"'
 
 ## Non-existant instance tests ##
 # # ============================================================
@@ -114,6 +134,45 @@
        - 'result.changed == False'
        - 'result.tags == None'
 
+# # ============================================================
+- name: "add tags using pattern (state==present)"
+  gce_tag:
+    service_account_email: "{{ service_account_email }}"
+    pem_file: "{{ pem_file }}"
+    project_id: "{{ project_id }}"
+    instance_pattern: "{{ instance_name }}"
+    zone: "{{ zone }}"
+    tags: instance-pattern-test
+    state: present
+  register: result
+
+- name: "assert tag using pattern successful"
+  assert:
+    that:
+       - 'result.changed == True'
+       - 'result.tags == ["instance-pattern-test"]'
+       - 'result.instances_updated[0].instance_name == "{{ instance_name }}"'
+       - 'result.instances_updated[0].tags_changed[0] == "instance-pattern-test"'
+
+# # ============================================================
+- name: "add existing tags with pattern, no change (state==present)"
+  gce_tag:
+    service_account_email: "{{ service_account_email }}"
+    pem_file: "{{ pem_file }}"
+    project_id: "{{ project_id }}"
+    instance_pattern: "{{ instance_name }}"
+    zone: "{{ zone }}"
+    tags: instance-pattern-test
+    state: present
+  register: result
+
+- name: "assert tag with pattern no change"
+  assert:
+    that:
+       - 'result.changed == False'
+       - 'result.tags == None'
+       - 'result.instances_updated|length == 0'
+
 # # ============================================================
 - name: "test tags removed from instance (state==absent)"
   gce_tag:
@@ -131,3 +190,24 @@
     that:
        - 'result.changed'
        - 'result.tags == ["foo", "bar"]'
+
+
+# # ============================================================
+- name: "test tags removed with instance_pattern (state==absent)"
+  gce_tag:
+    service_account_email: "{{ service_account_email }}"
+    pem_file: "{{ pem_file }}"
+    project_id: "{{ project_id }}"
+    instance_pattern: "{{ instance_name }}"
+    zone: "{{ zone }}"
+    tags: instance-pattern-test
+    state: absent
+  register: result
+
+- name: "assert tags removed with instance_pattern"
+  assert:
+    that:
+       - 'result.changed'
+       - 'result.tags == ["instance-pattern-test"]'
+       - 'result.instances_updated[0].instance_name == "{{ instance_name }}"'
+       - 'result.instances_updated[0].tags_changed[0] == "instance-pattern-test"'
diff --git a/test/units/modules/cloud/google/__init__.py b/test/units/modules/cloud/google/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/test/units/modules/cloud/google/test_gce_tag.py b/test/units/modules/cloud/google/test_gce_tag.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6a4595e263d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/units/modules/cloud/google/test_gce_tag.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import unittest
+
+from ansible.modules.cloud.google.gce_tag import _get_changed_items, _intersect_items, _union_items
+
+class TestGCETag(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Unit tests for gce_tag module."""
+
+    def test_union_items(self):
+        """
+        Combine items in both lists
+        removing duplicates.
+        """
+        listA = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9]
+        listB = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
+        want = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
+        got = _union_items(listA, listB)
+        self.assertEqual(want, got)
+
+    def test_intersect_items(self):
+        """
+        All unique items from either list.
+        """
+        listA = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9]
+        listB = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
+        want = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
+        got = _intersect_items(listA, listB)
+        self.assertEqual(want, got)
+
+        # tags removed
+        new_tags = ['one', 'two']
+        existing_tags = ['two']
+        want = ['two'] # only remove the tag that was present
+        got = _intersect_items(existing_tags, new_tags)
+        self.assertEqual(want, got)
+
+    def test_get_changed_items(self):
+        """
+        All the items from left list that don't match
+        any item from the right list.
+        """
+        listA = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9]
+        listB = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
+        want = [8, 9]
+        got = _get_changed_items(listA, listB)
+        self.assertEqual(want, got)
+
+        # simulate new tags added
+        tags_to_add = ['one', 'two']
+        existing_tags = ['two']
+        want = ['one']
+        got = _get_changed_items(tags_to_add, existing_tags)
+        self.assertEqual(want, got)
+        
+        # simulate removing tags
+        # specifying one tag on right that doesn't exist
+        tags_to_remove = ['one', 'two']
+        existing_tags = ['two', 'three']
+        want = ['three']
+        got = _get_changed_items(existing_tags, tags_to_remove)
+        self.assertEqual(want, got)
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
+    
+
+