* Gerund: This is the most common usage, acting as a noun. For example: "I enjoy washing the dishes." Here, "washing" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
* Present Participle: This acts as an adjective, describing a noun. For example: "The washing machine is broken." Here, "washing" describes the type of machine.
* Verb: In some cases, it can be part of the verb phrase "be washing." For example: "I am washing my hair."
It's important to consider the sentence structure and the function of the word in the sentence to determine its specific part of speech.