diff --git a/R/class-workbook.R b/R/class-workbook.R
index 2029fc028..47c8e649e 100644
--- a/R/class-workbook.R
+++ b/R/class-workbook.R
@@ -1383,6 +1383,12 @@ wbWorkbook <- R6::R6Class(
       if (missing(pivot_table)) pivot_table <- NULL
       if (missing(params))      params <- NULL
 
+      if_not_missing <- function(x) if (missing(x)) "" else as.character(x)
+
+      if (any(duplicated(c(if_not_missing(filter), if_not_missing(rows), if_not_missing(cols))))) {
+        stop("duplicated variable in filter, rows, and cols detected.")
+      }
+
       if (!missing(fun) && !missing(data)) {
         if (length(fun) < length(data)) {
           fun <- rep(fun[1], length(data))
diff --git a/R/helper-functions.R b/R/helper-functions.R
index d643a1357..7337588cb 100644
--- a/R/helper-functions.R
+++ b/R/helper-functions.R
@@ -827,8 +827,8 @@ create_pivot_table <- function(
         if (!abs(sort) %in% seq_along(rows_pos))
           warning("invalid sort position found")
 
-       if (!abs(sort) == match(i, rows_pos))
-        sort <- NULL
+        if (!abs(sort) == match(i, rows_pos))
+          sort <- NULL
       }
     }
 
@@ -840,8 +840,8 @@ create_pivot_table <- function(
         if (!abs(sort) %in% seq_along(cols_pos))
           warning("invalid sort position found")
 
-       if (!abs(sort) == match(i, cols_pos))
-        sort <- NULL
+        if (!abs(sort) == match(i, cols_pos))
+          sort <- NULL
       }
     }
 
@@ -864,8 +864,12 @@ create_pivot_table <- function(
       else                  sort <- "ascending"
     }
 
+    sort_item <- params$sort_item
+    choose    <- params$choose
+    multi     <- if (is.null(choose)) NULL else as_xml_attr(TRUE)
+
     attrs <- c(
-      axis, dataField, showAll = "0", sortType = sort,
+      axis, dataField, showAll = "0", multipleItemSelectionAllowed = multi, sortType = sort,
       compact = as_xml_attr(compact), outline = as_xml_attr(outline)
     )
 
@@ -873,9 +877,6 @@ create_pivot_table <- function(
       "pivotField",
       xml_attributes = attrs)
 
-    sort_item <- params$sort_item
-    choose    <- params$choose
-
     if (i %in% c(filter_pos, rows_pos, cols_pos)) {
       nms <- names(x[i])
       sort_itm <- sort_item[[nms]]