The disclosure relates to punching tools for punching machines for punching plate-shaped materials. The punching tools have an upper tool part with an upper cutting edge and a lower tool part with a lower cutting edge that move axially with respect to each other. The upper and lower cutting edges are arranged to cut off a part of the workpiece in a punching stoke. The upper cutting edge and/or the lower cutting edge include one or more transition regions that separate the cutting edge into at least two adjacent portions. The transition regions include, in the punching direction with respect to the respective adjacent portions, a discontinuity that is adapted to cut the material cut off from the workpiece into two or more individual parts in the same punching stroke.