Techniques for generating reference signals in a wireless communication system are described. A set of Q reference signal sequences may be generated based on G pseudo-random sequences and L scrambling sequences, where Q=G·L, G>1 and L>1. The Q reference signal sequences may be used for Q cell identities (IDs), one reference signal sequence for each cell ID. In one design, a Node B may determine first and second indices based on a cell ID of a cell. The Node B may generate a pseudo-random sequence based on the first index, generate a scrambling sequence based on the second index, and generate a reference signal sequence based on the pseudo-random sequence and the scrambling sequence. The Node B may then generate a reference signal for the cell based on the reference signal sequence, e.g., by generating an OFDM symbol with the reference signal sequence mapped to a set of subcarriers.