diff --git a/django_select2/forms.py b/django_select2/forms.py
index 0fedc39d..32d4ba11 100644
--- a/django_select2/forms.py
+++ b/django_select2/forms.py
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@
     :parts: 1
 
 """
+import re
 import uuid
-from functools import reduce
 from itertools import chain
 from pickle import PicklingError  # nosec
 
@@ -315,6 +315,8 @@ class HeavySelect2TagWidget(HeavySelect2Mixin, Select2TagWidget):
 class ModelSelect2Mixin:
     """Widget mixin that provides attributes and methods for :class:`.AutoResponseView`."""
 
+    _word_split_pattern = re.compile(r"\t|\n| ")
+
     model = None
     queryset = None
     search_fields = []
@@ -397,14 +399,15 @@ def filter_queryset(self, request, term, queryset=None, **dependent_fields):
             queryset = self.get_queryset()
         search_fields = self.get_search_fields()
         select = Q()
-        term = term.replace("\t", " ")
-        term = term.replace("\n", " ")
-        for t in [t for t in term.split(" ") if not t == ""]:
-            select &= reduce(
-                lambda x, y: x | Q(**{y: t}),
-                search_fields[1:],
-                Q(**{search_fields[0]: t}),
-            )
+
+        for field in search_fields:
+            field_select = Q(**{field: term})
+            if "contains" in field:
+                for word in filter(None, self._word_split_pattern.split(term)):
+                    field_select |= Q(**{field: word})
+
+            select |= field_select
+
         if dependent_fields:
             select &= Q(**dependent_fields)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_forms.py b/tests/test_forms.py
index 1f02c828..130f650c 100644
--- a/tests/test_forms.py
+++ b/tests/test_forms.py
@@ -446,6 +446,52 @@ def test_filter_queryset(self, genres):
         )
         assert qs.exists()
 
+    def test_filter_queryset__startswith(self, genres):
+        genre = Genre.objects.create(title="Space Genre")
+        widget = TitleModelSelect2Widget(queryset=Genre.objects.all())
+        assert widget.filter_queryset(None, genre.title).exists()
+
+        widget = TitleModelSelect2Widget(
+            search_fields=["title__istartswith"], queryset=Genre.objects.all()
+        )
+        qs = widget.filter_queryset(None, "Space Gen")
+        assert qs.exists()
+
+        qs = widget.filter_queryset(None, "Gen")
+        assert not qs.exists()
+
+    def test_filter_queryset__contains(self, genres):
+        genre = Genre.objects.create(title="Space Genre")
+        widget = TitleModelSelect2Widget(queryset=Genre.objects.all())
+        assert widget.filter_queryset(None, genre.title).exists()
+
+        widget = TitleModelSelect2Widget(
+            search_fields=["title__contains"], queryset=Genre.objects.all()
+        )
+        qs = widget.filter_queryset(None, "Space Gen")
+        assert qs.exists()
+
+        qs = widget.filter_queryset(None, "NOT Gen")
+        assert qs.exists(), "contains works even if only one part matches"
+
+    def test_filter_queryset__multiple_fields(self, genres):
+        genre = Genre.objects.create(title="Space Genre")
+        widget = TitleModelSelect2Widget(queryset=Genre.objects.all())
+        assert widget.filter_queryset(None, genre.title).exists()
+
+        widget = TitleModelSelect2Widget(
+            search_fields=[
+                "title__startswith",
+                "title__endswith",
+            ],
+            queryset=Genre.objects.all(),
+        )
+        qs = widget.filter_queryset(None, "Space")
+        assert qs.exists()
+
+        qs = widget.filter_queryset(None, "Genre")
+        assert qs.exists()
+
     def test_model_kwarg(self):
         widget = ModelSelect2Widget(model=Genre, search_fields=["title__icontains"])
         genre = Genre.objects.last()