title: resolving class name clashes in java
body: <p>I have a situation where I have to load a named class. If there are multiple classes with the same name (say, <code>com.example.myclass</code>) in my class path I have to load both. I am using  'loadClass()' method of my CustomLoader class which derives from <code>java.lang.ClassLoader</code>. I have not changed the behaviour of the parent class but am simply calling the parent's methods. My problem is that if there are two classes with the same name, I am able to load only one of them. I have scanned the web for a solution but haven't found any. I found many solutions on reloading classes by creating a new class loader instance but in my case the new instance will probably end up loading the first class again. Can this problem be solved? </p>
  
  <p>EDIT: I forgot to mention that the two classes with the same name are in different jar files.</p>
  
  <p>EDIT: Both Jon and Stephen gave the same solution but I can mark only one as answer. Sorry :(. I have up voted both answers though.</p>