the match operator m// returns all groupings in list context.

 
  DB<101> $_ = join ",","a".."z"
 
  DB<102> @matches = /(\w)/g
 
  DB<103> p @matches 
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
  DB<104> @matches = /(\w),(\w)/
 
  DB<105> p @matches 
ab
  DB<106> $a = join ",","a".."z"
 
  DB<107> @matches = ( $a =~ /(\w)/g )    # parens just for clarificat
+ion 
 
  DB<108> p @matches 
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
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UPDATE: extended examples