The word lives has two different pronunciations and meanings:

1. When it rhymes with “hives,” it's the plural of life. Your parents have their own lives, your siblings have theirs, and you have yours. Each person's life is unique, filled with their own experiences, relationships, and choices. History books tell us about the lives of important people like Benjamin Franklin or Harriet Tubman, showing us how they spent their time on Earth and what they accomplished. When we say “nine lives” about a cat, we're joking about how cats seem to survive dangerous situations. The word can also mean ways of living: “Some people lead quiet lives in small towns, while others lead busy lives in big cities.”
2. When it rhymes with “gives,” it's a verb meaning to be alive or to have a home somewhere. A bear lives in the forest. Your friend lives on the next street over. Scientists study how life exists in extreme places, like deep in the ocean or high in the mountains. You might say an idea lives on when people keep remembering and using it long after its creator has died. The phrase “how the other half lives” refers to understanding how people in different circumstances experience daily life.