This paper focuses on the common sources of etiologies of conflict in multicultural contexts. Multicultural communication is the creation and sharing of meaning among citizens of the same geopolitical system who belong to divergent tributary cultures. The sources of conflict in multicultural relations can be grouped into five broad categories. These include: (1) the allocation of resources; (2) historical legacy; (3) attitudinal interference; (4) lack of cultural literacy; and (5) variations among people. Of the five categories, the greatest source of conflict is the allocation of resources, whether human, natural, or institutional. Conflicts usually occur due to a combination of these sources. The probability of solving multicultural conflicts is greatly increased when the communicators are aware of the contributing factors. An appendix contains a statistical analysis of the Tolerance for Human Diversity Inventory, an instrument to measure interaction and tolerance of difference. The instrument itself is included. (Contains 61 references.) (Author/SLD)