JACKPOT

 A P-OLE, a CIRCLE, a CROSS.

The HIGHEST P-rize.
Im-P-lies verticality, s-P-a-T-i-AL.
An em-PT-y V-essel.
P-O-T-EN-T-I-AL.
En-cry-PT.
S-cri-PT.
PO-e-T, POT-ter, ‘MAKER.’

‘Very skilled or proficient at something, ‘ADEPT.’
‘INEPT,’ not so much.

We PO-in-T.

‘P-HE-T’ means ‘to speak’ and the prefix ‘PRO-‘ means ‘for.’