Really a dual purpose part. As you indicated, to close an opening that is
intended to facilitate the manufacture of the block and,

Definition: An expansion plug located in the side of an engine block that is
supposed to protect the block against freeze damage. Water expands when it
turns to ice, and if the coolant doesn't have enough antifreeze protection
it can freeze and crack the engine block. The freeze plugs (there are
several) are supposed to pop out under such conditions to relieve the
pressure on the block. Freeze plugs can often be a source of troublesome
leaks as a result of internal cooling system corrosion. Ease of replacement
depends on accessibility.