The invention relates to methods and compositions for simultaneously generating a plurality of polynucleotide sequencing ladders or PCR amplification products. Each sequencing ladder is generated from a recoverable primer, i.e., an oligonucleotide primer comprising a recovery tag. The recovery tag may be an oligonucleotide. Each sequencing ladder has a unique recovery tag. After the generation of the multiple sequencing ladders, the different sequencing ladders are separated from one another, i.e., purified, by binding to recovery tag binding compounds that have been immobilized on one or more solid supports. The recovery tag binding compounds are immobilized on the solid support in an addressable manner, i.e., the recovery tag binding compounds have distinct locations on the solid support. The binding of the sequencing ladders to the recovery tag binding compounds serves to separate the different polynucleotide sequencing ladders present in a given solution. The separated sequencing ladders may then be released from the immobilized recovery tag binding compounds and subsequently resolved into individual components of the sequencing ladders or PCR products. The subject methods of separating sequencing ladders simultaneously generated in the same vessel may readily be adapted to separate a plurality of simultaneously generated polynucleotide amplification products. Other aspects of the invention are kits for the generation or recovery of a plurality of polynucleotide sequencing ladders or amplification products. The kits comprise a plurality of recoverable primers having unique recovery tags. Preferably, the recovery tags are polynucleotides that have substantially the same denaturation temperature when bound to appropriate recovery tag binding compounds, i.e., the primers comprise an integrated set. The kits may further comprise recovery tag binding compounds. The kits may further comprise labeled chain terminators. Other aspects of the invention include polynucleotide recovery devices.