Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described that provide for uplink channel multiplexing and waveform selection. Uplink channels to be transmitted from one or more user equipment (UEs) to a base station are multiplexed together or separately into an uplink subframe. Each UE is capable of using different waveforms to transmit different channels. Reference signals are communicated according to an RS pattern, which is symmetric across uplink and downlink channels.