Shape memory poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) gels with controllable macroscopic swelling degrees were prepared via host-guest interaction in this work. PILs with bis(trifluoromethyl-sulfonyl)imide (TFSI-) anions were synthesized by the radical copolymerization and immersed in water and beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CD) aqueous solutions, respectively. Quick swelling and shape memory behavior of the PIL gel were observed in beta-CD aqueous solution due to the hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic transition induced by beta-CD/TFSI- inclusion complexes. However, the PIL gel undergone only a slight swelling in the presence of water. The swelling of inclusion-sensitive polymer networks with shape memory effect prepared in this work would have applications in advanced sensor and biomedicine. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.