Wireless sensor networks are composed of a large number of sensor nodes with limited energy resources. One critical issue in wireless sensor networks is how to gather sensed information in an energy efficient way, since their energy is limited. The clustering algorithm is a technique used to reduce energy consumption. It can improve the scalability and lifetime of wireless sensor networks. In this paper, we introduce a clustering protocol with mode selection (CPMS) for wireless sensor networks. Our scheme improves the performance of BCDCP (Base Station Controlled Dynamic Clustering Protocol) and BIDRP (Base Station Initiated Dynamic Routing Protocol) routing protocol. In CPMS, the base station constructs clusters and makes the head node with the highest residual energy send data to the base station. Furthermore, we can save the energy of head nodes by using the modes selection method. The simulation results show that CPMS achieves longer lifetime and more data message transmissions than current important clustering protocols in wireless sensor networks.