1993 Ford Explorer freeze plugs or head gaskets

i have the original manual and the chiltons manual for my '93 explorer, but in either one it doesn't show or have any diagram of where these parts are, the terms "freeze plug" or "head gasket" aren't even in the glossary! regardless, the problem i'm having is an almost total loss of coolant from the engine block, on the side twards the bottom, there are three spots on either side that are like the one where the coolant comes out of. oddly enough, on the opposite side of the engine, in one of the three round holes, is what looks like a temporary plug.
if i described it, it would be a thick rubber stopper with a washer the same diameter on top and a nut on top to tighten the rubber to make a seal in the hole. please tell me anything you can about how to fix this, or at the very least what the name of the part is so i can get a new one! thank you so much,
mikey alfonso reno, nv.