A method performed by a terminal in a communication system is provided. Information on a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configuration type corresponding to a mapping pattern of a plurality of DMRS ports is received from a base station. Control information indicating at least one DMRS port among the plurality of DMRS ports is received from the base station. The at least one DMRS port associated with downlink data is identified based on the control information. Downlink data based on the identified DMRS port is received from the base station. The plurality of DMRS ports belong to two or three DMRS groups based on a DMRS configuration type. Resources corresponding to different DMRS groups are multiplexed based on an orthogonal code.