Getting points is not a reward for a right answer. It's a consequence of a right answer. There is no judgement or personal opinion or generosity involved. Right answer implies points. Anything else is dishonest.

Answering the question as written is not playing language games. It is answering the question. If your question allows answers that don't demonstrate what you want, then that means that you suck at language, not that your student is playing games. If the student is playing games as well, well students are allowed to have fun, and the screw up is still yours.

The language is very clear and the answers absolutely meet the requirement. The teacher does not get to withhold points because they're embarrassed that they wrote a crappy question.