Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-based ionic microgels with different diameters were first prepared and then used as particulate stabilizer or seed in dispersion polymerization of styrene. The role of PNIPAM-based ionic microgels could be transformed from particulate stabilizer to seed by controlling the water content in methanol-water mixture. Generally, PNIPAM-based ionic microgels served as particulate stabilizer in methanol in the absence of water, leading to the formation of spherical polystyrene nanoparticles. However, they turned into seeds when water was added into the methanol solution, with the formation of octopus-like nanoparticles. Further study demonstrated that the mechanism for this role transition was related to the special thermosensitivity of PNIPAM microgels in methanol-water mixture. They lost their thermosensitivity in pure methanol solution but restored their thermosensitivity when increasing the water content in methanol-water mixture.