Cylindrical monopole antenna is one of most promising candidates for multi-band applications such as PCS, WLAN, DMB, and UWB wireless services. In this research, we demonstrate that there exist two types of current distributions according to the exciting frequency in a double band cylindrical monopole antenna, in which double resonance is achieved by adjusting the coupling structure of the antenna base. The operating modes of current distributions are identified from CST software simulations, the standing wave mode in a lower band and the traveling wave mode in a higher band. Also it is noticed that the mode behavior is quite similar to a helical antenna, a standing-wave (resonance) mode and a traveling-wave (non-resonance) mode according to the electrical dimensions of antenna. The effective ranges for operating modes and design formulas of the double band antenna are derived from simulation and measured results.