\showframe

\starttext
    \startmixedcolumns[balance=yes]
        \dorecurse{8}{\input{ward}\par}
    \stopmixedcolumns
    \startmixedcolumns[balance=no]
        \dorecurse{4}{\input{knuth}\par}
    \stopmixedcolumns
    \startmixedcolumns[balance=yes]
        \dorecurse{8}{\input{ward}\par}
    \stopmixedcolumns
\stoptext

