Busted leaky boots, dried up, play in the ball joint section. It won't fall out, but it will have sloppiness,
Jack the car up; place your hands on the 4 and 8 position on the wheel and try pushing it back and forth. If there's play, then it's bad. If not, then it's good. If you place your hands on the 6 and 12 position on the wheel and there's play, then you're ball joints are bad.
If you have side to side play, you need to further diagnost WHAT is loose. there are 4 tie rods, pitman arm, idler arm, and wheel bearings that can move in that direction. You won't get play from the ball joints by moving 12/6 on a 2wd because the ball joints are loaded. lift that corner by the control arm so the weight is off the joint, THEN shake. Oh and a bad tie rod most certainly CAN "fall out" if it gets bad enough. I've had to fix cars it happened on. Same goes for ball joints. Get enough play in the socket and POP there the wheel.
