Free radical terpolymerization of (N,N)-dimethylacrylamide, ethylene-glycol-dimethacrylate and N-(p- or m-ethyl-phenyl)acrylamide leads to para- and meta-ethyl-phenyl-modified hydrophilic polymer networks. Polymeric networks of different molar ratios are prepared in special molds to give water swellable disc- shaped samples. The swelling behavior in water and aqueous cyclodextrin (CD) solution of the obtained samples is described while a distinctive differentiation between the para- and meta-ethyl-phenyl containing networks in CD solution can be found.