diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
index 74fb504..102c669 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
@@ -219,11 +219,8 @@ fn cell_set(s: &mut Session, p: &Json) -> Result<Json> {
         Some(c) => c,
         None => s.doc()?.selection.active,
     };
-    let input = str_param(p, "input")
-        .or_else(|| str_param(p, "value"))
-        .map(str::to_string)
-        .or_else(|| p.get("value").map(json_to_input))
-        .ok_or_else(|| bad("cell.set", "missing `input` (or `value`)"))?;
+    // Both spellings take a string, number or boolean, as typed (#697).
+    let input = p.get("input").or_else(|| p.get("value")).map(json_to_input).ok_or_else(|| bad("cell.set", "missing `input` (or `value`)"))?;
     let array = bool_param(p, "array").unwrap_or(false);
     let d = s.doc()?;
     if let Some(sh) = d.wb.sheet(sheet)
@@ -1597,6 +1594,23 @@ fn begin_edit(s: &mut Session, _: &Json) -> Result<Json> {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn cell_set_takes_numbers_for_input_and_value() {
+        // #697: a JSON number for `input` used to clear the cell instead of entering it.
+        let mut s = Session::new();
+        s.new_workbook();
+        s.execute("cell.set", json!({"cell": "A1", "input": 123.5})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("cell.set", json!({"cell": "A2", "value": 77})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("cell.set", json!({"cell": "A3", "input": true})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("cell.set", json!({"cell": "A4", "input": "=A1+A2"})).unwrap();
+        let get = |s: &mut Session, a: &str| s.execute("cell.get", json!({"cell": a})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(get(&mut s, "A1")["value"], json!(123.5));
+        assert_eq!(get(&mut s, "A2")["value"], json!(77.0));
+        assert_eq!(get(&mut s, "A3")["value"], json!(true));
+        assert_eq!(get(&mut s, "A4")["value"], json!(200.5));
+        assert!(s.execute("cell.set", json!({"cell": "A5"})).is_err());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn legacy_array_entry() {
         let mut s = Session::new();
diff --git a/crates/mcp/src/tests.rs b/crates/mcp/src/tests.rs
index ccb9c0f..de6bbc6 100644
--- a/crates/mcp/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/mcp/src/tests.rs
@@ -202,6 +202,9 @@ fn basic_tools() {
     assert!(f.as_array().unwrap().iter().any(|x| x["name"] == "VLOOKUP"));
     assert_eq!(ok(&mut s, "evaluate_formula", json!({"formula": "SUM(1,2,3)"}))["result"], json!(6.0));
     ok(&mut s, "set_cell", json!({"cell": "A1", "input": "5"}));
+    // #697: a number for `input` is entered, not rejected or cleared.
+    ok(&mut s, "set_cell", json!({"cell": "B1", "input": 42.5}));
+    assert_eq!(ok(&mut s, "get_cell", json!({"cell": "B1"}))["value"], json!(42.5));
     ok(&mut s, "execute_command", json!({"command": "cell.set", "params": {"cell": "A2", "input": "=A1*2"}}));
     assert_eq!(ok(&mut s, "get_cell", json!({"cell": "A2"}))["value"], json!(10.0));
     assert_eq!(ok(&mut s, "evaluate_formula", json!({"formula": "=A1+A2", "cell": "C1"}))["result"], json!(15.0));
diff --git a/crates/mcp/src/tools.rs b/crates/mcp/src/tools.rs
index 71fbdf4..e6322f0 100644
--- a/crates/mcp/src/tools.rs
+++ b/crates/mcp/src/tools.rs
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ pub fn tool_definitions() -> Vec<Value> {
             "Enter one cell exactly as if typed: a number, text, or a formula starting with = (\"=AVERAGE(B2:B9)\"). \
              Dependent cells recalculate. Returns the command result; use get_cell to read the computed value.",
             obj(
-                json!({"cell": string("Cell, e.g. \"B7\" or \"Sheet2!C3\""), "input": string("Typed input: number, text or =formula")}),
+                json!({"cell": string("Cell, e.g. \"B7\" or \"Sheet2!C3\""), "input": {"type": ["string", "number", "boolean"], "description": "Typed input: number, text or =formula"}}),
                 &["cell", "input"],
             ),
             false,