Firstly, it's file_get_contents(), a typo I'm assuming, as you said you got it to work. Secondly, you cannot specify whether or not you are opening binary or ASCII with file_get_contents(). I suggest using fopen() and supply the mode with "b". (Look at the list for what it does.)
Keep in mind that word files are in an odd format, and you will have to know how to read them to get correct information.
