To investigate the impact of coal mining on soil water movement, study plots were established in both mined-out areas and control areas within the Upper Bay and Burmese Terrace mining districts, using Artemisia ordosica as the indicator species. By employing hydrogen and oxygen isotope tracing techniques, we analyzed soil profile water content and plant water uptake strategies to systematically elucidate the mechanisms of soil water movement. The results indicate that structural damage to the soil in mined-out areas creates preferential flow pathways, leading to significantly higher deep-layer water content compared to control areas. Plant water-use strategies differed markedly: vegetation in control areas primarily absorbed deep, stable water sources, while plants in mined-out areas shifted towards utilizing shallower and mid-layer water sources. Soil water movement is collectively controlled by evaporation, preferential flow, infiltration, and plant water uptake. Isotopically labeled water injected at 170 cm depth was found to evaporate and migrate to the surface. Infiltration was stronger in mined-out areas, resulting in greater migration depths than in control areas. Coal mining alters soil structure and hydrological pathways, causing spatiotemporal redistribution of water movement and forcing vegetation to adapt their water-use strategies. The law of soil water transport in coal mining area was revealed from multi-dimension, which has certain practical guidance significance for promoting ecological restoration and sustainable development of arid mining area in Northwest China.