There's actually more multi-sel commands in V5 then in V4, but they are not as necessary and not as easy to use.
Everything is in EDIT+SEARCH
Jim mentioned the Power Input field. (I didn't know that .PLA* would work, but I'll try it) Here's a short list of some of the V4-like selections:
T=point select all points
T=line select all lines
T=cur* select all curves and lines
T=sur* select all surfaces
T=pl* select all planes
T=body select all solids
T=sk* select all sketches
Col=green select all elements with green color
N=*wheel* select element (or part) with “wheel” in name