A method is specified for controlling a multiphase motor that is commutated by an inverter-side bridge circuit, in the course of which a particularly precise and technically simple detection of a control-relevant variable of a considered motor phase, in particular of a motor phase current and/or a back EMF voltage and/or a variable derived therefrom, takes place. It is provided here to determine the control-relevant variable with the aid of the current state of a freewheeling diode that is disposed in a phase half bridge, assigned to the respective motor phase, of the bridge circuit, the current state being detected during an on time in which a power switch, connected in parallel with the freewheeling diode, of the phase half bridge exhibits a conducting state, and a power switch connected in series with the freewheeling diode exhibits a blocking state.