In this paper we present a conceptual framework and the implementation details of a semantic web tool named SAQI (Semantic Aware Query Interface) that enables querying across structurally disparate XML documents that use the vocabulary from a shared ontology. Through this tool we provide an interface for querying the web pages of a group of participants with common interest who have agreed to use the common base ontology for publishing their data. Our interface guides a naive user in his querying process. It helps him to formulate his queries and retrieve semantically correct information from the web pages of this user group. © Springer-Verlag 2004.