1.  near one's knee
2.  (by) one's side;  (at) one's hand
3.  place under the protection (of one's parents, etc.);  (under) the care (of)
4.  territory of a powerful person
when read as "ひざもと"
5.  address used after the names of one's parents, grandparents, etc. in a letter
when read as "しっか"