Q: Does the word "question" mean the same thing in "The question of disease merits serious discussion." and "There was a question of which material to use."?

A: the same meaning

Q: Does the word "side" mean the same thing in "He had a pain in his side." and "Which side of the tray shall I put it on?"?

A: the same meaning

Q: Does the word "setup" mean the same thing in "It takes time to learn the setup around here." and "The laboratory included an elaborate setup for measuring the energy."?

A: different meanings

Q: Does the word "forefront" mean the same thing in "That laboratory researches topics at the forefront of technology." and "The Cotswolds were once at the forefront of woollen manufacturing in England."?

A:
the same meaning