\documentclass[a4paper,10pt]{article}
\usepackage[margin=1.5cm]{geometry}
\usepackage{multicol}
\usepackage{multicoltab}

\begin{document}

\section*{Three columns}
\begin{multicols}{3}
\begin{multicoltab}{@{}p{1.3cm}X@{}}
  1 & First entry in a three-column layout. \\
  2 & Second entry in a three-column layout. \\
  3 & Third entry in a three-column layout. \\
  4 & Fourth entry in a three-column layout. \\
  5 & Fifth entry in a three-column layout. \\
  6 & Sixth entry in a three-column layout. \\
  7 & Seventh entry in a three-column layout. \\
  8 & Eighth entry in a three-column layout. \\
  9 & Ninth entry in a three-column layout.
\end{multicoltab}
\end{multicols}

\section*{Four columns}
\begin{multicols}{4}
\begin{multicoltab}{@{}p{1cm}X@{}}
  1 & First entry. \\
  2 & Second entry. \\
  3 & Third entry. \\
  4 & Fourth entry. \\
  5 & Fifth entry. \\
  6 & Sixth entry. \\
  7 & Seventh entry. \\
  8 & Eighth entry. \\
  9 & Ninth entry. \\
  10 & Tenth entry. \\
  11 & Eleventh entry. \\
  12 & Twelfth entry.
\end{multicoltab}
\end{multicols}

\end{document}