A method for operating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle involves directly injecting fuel into a combustion chamber using an injection device, and a mixture of the fuel and air is ignited in the combustion chamber by an ignition device. The internal combustion engine is operated selectively in at least one first operating mode with at least one first valve lift of at least one gas exchange valve of the internal combustion engine, associated with the combustion chamber, or in at least one second operating mode with at least one second valve lift of the gas exchange valve, which is smaller than the first valve lift. For assisting a charge movement of the mixture in the second operating mode, at least one further injection of fuel directly into the combustion chamber is carried out prior to the ignition.