This report presents findings from the conceptualization, design, development, and field-testing of Portable Wordplay, two digital games and related curricular materials for middle grade classrooms. The games and materials were designed to support the growth of students’ knowledge of multiple meaning, high frequency academic vocabulary. The goal of the Portable Wordplay project was to demonstrate how digital games can create opportunities for students who are struggling academically to interact as peers with their higher-achieving classmates, while all students are building and refining core literacy skills.