Theory and research on meaning has proliferated in recent years focusing on both global meaning and processes of making meaning from difficult life events such as trauma and serious illness. However the measurement of meaning constructs lags behind theoretical conceptualizations hindering empirical progress. In this paper we first delineate a meaning-making framework that integrates current theorizing about meaning and meaning making. From the vantage of this framework we then describe and evaluate current approaches to assessing meaning-related phenomena including global meaning and situational meaning constructs. We conclude with suggestions for an integrative approach to assessing meaning-related constructs in future research.