Some words can take either form, often with a difference in meaning.
He looked behind him until his mind took in the meaning of the movement.
There is a difference in the meaning of those two words.
To them, the truth was in the meaning of details.
There is no difference in meaning: They've got a new car.
And he had attacked in the meaning of their culture.
No one is free in the abstract meaning you give the word.
Although I would suggest that, in the full meaning of the term, we may be no longer human.
Quite and pretty are very similar in meaning: You'll need a coat when you go out.
This is a result of the spoken language and has no difference in meaning.