When indexing a hash, use $, not %. 
foreach (@hashNames)
{
  ${$_}{'key'} = $i;
}

[download]
The above code is not equivalent to your example. The code below is. 
foreach (@hashNames)
{
  %{$_} = (
    key' => '0'
  );
}

[download]

In reply to Re: Dynamically naming and creating hashes by Anonymous Monk
in thread Dynamically naming and creating hashes by mellin

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