A theoretical calculation and an optical measurement method of normal-incidence absorption are proposed. By using a waveguide structure, optical interference and the problem of low level signal can be avoided in the measurement of normal-incidence absorption. The oscillator strength of intersubband absorption for a waveguide structure is calculated in Si(001), Si(110), and Ge(001) quantum wells. The polarization angle dependence of the measured and the calculated absorption strength can be obtained with the same waveguide structure, and be compared after normalization. The normal-incidence absorption in Si(110) and Ge(001) quantum wells is shown theoretically, and can be observed in the optical measurement using waveguide structures at the polarization angle of 90$^{circ}$.