When Rashi uses, what we may losely call, the hononym method, Rashi does not explain new meaning but rather shows an underlying unity in disparate meanings. Rashi will frequently do this by showing an underlying unity in the varied meanings of a Biblical root.

In my article Peshat and Derash found on the world wide web at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rashi.pdf. I advocate enriching the Rashi explanation using a technique of parallel nifty translations in modern English. Today's examples show this.

Today we illustrate with the Biblical root Nun-Sin-Aleph whose fundamental unifying meaning is lift. From this fundamental meaning we have the following rich set of superficially disparate meanings:
• Clouds: Clouds appear lifted.
• Fire: The fire strands appear to be lifted upwards.
• Promotion: The promoted person achieves a higher position. Note: This social metaphor occurs in English also.
• Prayer: Prayer is picturesquely seen as being lifted heavenward.
• Marriage: Similar to English where the bride and groom have a high in emotions.
• Forgiveness: Sin is seen as something heavy that weighs on a person's mind. In English also we speak about a weighty matter that gets a person down. The forgiveness lifts the heavy sin.

Advanced Rashi: There are several other meanings similar to the above (e.g. the King is the person who has received the biggest promotion or is socially highest.) Rashi in an unusual comment is explicit about the unified meaning approach. Rashi does not typically explain method. But on this verse Rashi says Nun Sin Aleph means forgiveness. But this root does not leave its original meaning of lifting. Forgiveness indicates a lifting of a [heavy] sin.