I think you might be confused by high explosive fragmentation rounds and shrapnel rounds. Shrapnel rounds yes typically contain balls, sometimes lead, sometimes steel or iron, the base of the round contains the explosive filler which forces the balls out through the front of the round in a cone. By contrast a high explosive round has the centre of the shell filled the explosive filler, when it detonates that tears appart the walls of the shell, which may be designed with inbuilt segments that shatter apart. These fragments of the shell wall maybe jagged or sharp.

Some more modern missiles, usually designed for SAM missiles such as a starstreak however somewhat resemble a shrapnel in general design in that they fire projectiles out of the front of the missile. Upon approaching their target they fire a number of relatively sharp (like you wouldn't cut your finger on them sharp but they have a point) dart like sub munitions that are propelled out from the primary missile at the target.