A method and apparatus for selectively filling a cache memory with a variable number of data words in response to the size and type of data transfer requested by the processor associated with the cache. According to the present invention a cache fill of either 16 or 64 bytes are provided. If there is a cache miss and an 8 byte word data transfer as requested, the larger fill is provided, similarly, if the 8 byte word data transfer is not requested, the shorter block of data is provided, resulting in enhanced performance over a fixed length cache fill.