A generic module must be described using a simple POM. Never a group, etc. As if he is on his own. This is the 1st pom.xml.
Next, create the 2nd pom.xml, do a group project, for starters, for application 1, and specify your common module (1st pom.xml) in the modules section:
<modules> <module>./path/to/shared/project/pom.xml</module> </modules>
Next, describe application 1 as a module for a group project, in the usual way with reference to the parent group project in the parent section. This is our 3rd pom.xml.
After that, you can add a dependency to your “common” module (1st pom.xml) in the 3rd pom.xml using the usual dependency tag.
Similarly for your application 2, make the 4th (group) and 5th (module) pom.xml.
The technique is rarely used, because there is little where described, and if you believe some of the popular maven manual, even impossible.