The invention relates to a sensing device for carrying out a method for sensing workpieces, and also to the method itself, in which, by means of conveying means (6), a first workpiece (8, 8') is fed to a sensing device, by way of which a top side (10) of the workpiece (8, 8') is at least partially sensed. Here, in a first method step for the further sensing of the first workpiece (8, 8'), after atleast partial sensing of its top side (10), the first workpiece (8, 8') is fed by means of the conveying means (6) to a first turning member (16) with which the first workpiece fed thereto in order to be turned is then turned such that the first workpiece (8, 8') is fed again in the turned state by means of the conveying means (6) for the at least partial sensing of its underside (10'), and so, after at least partial sensing of its underside (10'), it is conveyed by means of the conveying means (6) in a conveying direction (30, 32) away from the sensing device (12), wherein, during the firstmethod step, in a second method step for sensing a second workpiece (22), the second workpiece (22) following the first workpiece (8) is fed to the sensing device (12) and, after at least partial sensing of its top side (24), is fed by means of the conveying means (6) to a second turning member (20) with which the second workpiece (22) fed thereto in order to be turned is turned such that the latter is fed again, in the turned state, to the sensing device (12) by means of the conveying device (6) for the at least partial sensing of its underside (24').