• 芝しば — turf; sod
• 芝生しばふ — lawn; grass field
• 芝刈しばかり — lawn mowing
• 芝居しばい — play; drama (kabuki etc.)
• 芝目しばめ — grain/direction of turf (esp. golf greens)
• 芝草しばくさ — lawn grass

芝 sits in the plant set (くさかんむり) and points to short, close-growing grass used for lawns or turf. Hence everyday words like 芝生 and 芝刈り. By extension, 芝居 refers to stage plays— historically performed on outdoor stages near turf.