It might be a bit quicker using a regex: 

#! perl -slw
use strict;

my $word = 'little';

while( <DATA> ) {
    m[(
        [^ \n]*[^\w\n]*
        (\b\Q$word\E\b)
        [^\w\n]*[^ \n]*
    )]x and print "$2, $., $1";
}
__DATA__
little boy blue come blow on your horn
give a little, take a lot
give a lot, take a little
Mary had a little lamb
Don't belittle the little guy

[download]

Gives:

[14:04:33.30]C:\test>junk4
little, 1, little boy
little, 2, a little, take
little, 3, a little
little, 4, a little lamb
little, 5, the little guy

[download]
Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
"Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."

In reply to Re: Finding word either side of a word match by BrowserUk
in thread Finding word either side of a word match by Quicksilver

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