Forgive less than perfect bowling score (5)
I believe the answer is:
spare
This might be a double definition.
'forgive' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'bowling score' is the second definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'less than perfect' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to one of the definitions.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spare that I've seen before include "Extra; lean" , "not in actual use" , "Not required" , "Pardon; unneeded" , "Thin; left over" .)