A multi-way valve, a water softener, and a method for controlling the water softener. The multi-way valve is provided with a main valve and a secondary valve. When each of the main valve and the secondary valve is at a bypass valve position, a water inlet passage, a first main valve passage, a first secondary valve passage, a second secondary valve passage, a second main valve passage, and a water outlet passage of the multi-way valve are sequentially connected, thereby forming a bypass flow path in the multi-way valve.