Most of the damage to parts that don't eject are from up and down motion.
Check inside the bore of the housing for pockets that the plunger can get stuck in.  And how oval is the end of the hole?  Stick the plunger in    and check up and down play.

Now up and down play is the main concern, but side to side sometimes happens.  Which is the wear you see on the back of the housing to the guide.  This will be a problem with this damaged plunger as you'll get more wear in the future.

I'd buy a new one myself.  Especially if you didn't want to visit it again.
Of course if it meant goin hungry for a week, I'd weld it.