A description is given of a process for preparing bimodal or multimodal polymers from olefinically unsaturated monomers in an aqueous medium.The process features the introduction as initial charge of selected mixtures of polymeric stabilizers and of at least one selected ionic comonomer.In the polymerization process the monomer is metered continuously or discontinuously into the said initial charge.In this way it is possible by means of simple process measures to prepare bimodal or multimodal dispersions.