Just type the keyword into google search and if the serp page has ads on it then that means advertisers are paying for that keyword. Otherwise you'll get stuck with keywords that pay less than 10 cents.
Even if there are advertisers you can still be getting 10 cent clicks, https://adwords.google.com/select/TrafficEstimatorSandbox This adwords tool will tell you how much advertisers are paying per click.
Look at how much advertisers are paying for those terms on average, what the level of competition is and what the range is in terms of what they are bidding. This will give you a clearer picture than just checking for ads.
If your site is not converting for advertisers, you will only get few pennies even for high paying keywords. It all depends on how good your site is for converting potential buyers