Traditional packaging materials easily cause white pollution, developing green biological packaging is highly important for environmental sustainability. In this study, double-modified tapioca starch (DMTS) was prepared and characterized. Further, clove essential oil (Ceo) at concentrations of 0.5 %/0.75 %/1.0 %/1.25 % (wt%) was loaded into the DMTS film matrix to develop an applicable active packaging material. XRD analysis and FT-IR results revealed that esterified starch was successfully prepared, the DM/CS/Ceo films had a dense intermolecular network, and the Ceo was successfully incorporated into the polymer matrix. The performance test results demonstrate well-performing mechanical, hydrophobic, and antioxidant properties of Ceo series composite films. Specifically, the EAB of the 1.25 % Ceo film increased by 10.7 %, the water contact angle increased by 18.89°, and the DPPH free radical clearance increased by 12.79 times compared to that of the DM film. In addition, the inhibition rates of the 1.25 % Ceo film against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reached 86.51 % and 86.84 %, respectively. These results indicate that Ceo films have tremendous potential application value in prolonging food storage life.