Uniform Eu3+ doped CdWO4 nanorods were prepared via a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and PL lifetime measurement. The results indicate that the obtained Eu3+ doped CdWO4 nanorods have monoclinic phase structure, and the phase structure can be retained at Eu3+ doping concentrations of 0.4%~4.0%. The diameter of nanorods decreases from 27 to 15 nm with an increase in the doping concentrations, and the morphology becomes irregular at the Eu3+ doping concentration of 6.5%. Under the excitation of ultravioletlight, the relative intensities of blue-green emission ascribed to WO42- and red emission from Eu3+ can be tuned through doping Eu3+ ions into the CdWO4 nanorods and thus altering the energy transfer between WO42- and Eu3+. Hence, the multi-color luminescence in a same host under single excited wavelength can be realized simply by altering the doping concentration of Eu3+. These luminescent nanomaterials may have potential applications in displays, light sources, bio-imaging and so on.