Both Uses

grapple
in
The Westing Game
(Auto-generated)

Neighbor greeted neighbor with "Good morning" or "Good evening" or a friendly smile, and grappled with small problems behind closed doors.†
p. 6.2 *
Her green rhinestone-studded glasses slipped down her fleshy nose as she grappled with a tall triangular package and a stuffed shopping bag.†
p. 15.2

Definitions:

(1) (grapple as in: grappled mentally)
to wrestle or struggle physically
(2) (grapple as in: grappled hand-to-hand)
to struggle mentally with a problem
(3) (grapple as in: grappling hooks)
a tool with claws or hooks which is used to catch or hold something; or pulling a rope attached to such a tool; or grabbing and holding
(4) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
More rarely, grapple or grappling hook can be used as a noun to reference a tool (consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding) that is often thrown with a rope.