Meaning:

It's better to have one of something for certain than to run after two of the same thing and not be sure of getting them.

Possible Interpretation:

Nasty or bad people have a habit of showing up or returning.


Vocabulary:


Penny (Noun): Coin of small value (one hundredth of a British pound or one hundredth of a US dollar.)

Turn Up(verb): be found (especially by chance); appear; arrive

Bad Penny: Literally means a bent penny, but in this saying it figuratively means a bad person.


Sentence:

If 'a bad penny always turns up", a bad person always reappears.