So I know the track has to be in 16 bit format in order to burn to a cd. 
When I export it, the file is set  at 16 bit. 
But when I try to burn the file, it says that it can't because its 32 bit. Help please:)

Welcome to the forum!

What do you mean by "the file is set at 16 bit"? You mean in the Export dialogue? Please confirm: When you export, you have selected 16 bit/44,1 kHz  in the Export dialogue? And, if the original project is 24 bits, you have selected  dithering.

Settings for export should be 16/44.1 as Kalle indicated. 

That is the standard setting for CDs.   I normally just export at this setting for all my wave files.  I trim them up in a separate wave editor and use my Roxio program to burn the CD. 

What are you trying to use to burn the CD?  are you using MC to burn it?
 
MC will burn CD's but I find the program difficult to use correctly for that purpose.  I would suggest that you use windows media player or other program to actually burn the CD.
 
just export your project at 16bit/44.1kHz STANDARD WAVE file, then import into WMP, then set it up to burn to a CD from there.

Yes, I am using MC to burn it.  
And yes, in the export dialogue, 16 bit/44,1 Hz is selected (it is the only thing to select) 
(I also read in the help window that all files are automatically exported at that standard.)  
But I will try WMP and see if that works!

yes, I seem to remember that MC forces you to export at 16/44.1, but had forgotten that until you mentioned it.
 
try WMP and let us know what happens.

At first, windows media wouldn't burn because "an error occured." 
I decided to try converting to mp3, and this worked fine. I'm not sure what was wrong with the .wav file, but this worked fine for my needs (just showing a friend) 
While I am not new to songwriting, I am new to recording and mixing, so if you have any additional advice, it would be very helpful!:) 

I have never tried to use the internal burner to Cakewalk.
 
I export them to a desk top folder.... trim them as I mentioned, and then import them to my 3rd party burner. It has never given me any sort of problem with the wave settings.
 
Burning as MP3 is OK.... but not really the desired way to burn music.
 
Let us know how this progresses as you experiment to see what it takes to burn a wave.
 
I would grab a wave from another source and see if that burns OK.... search your computer for WAV files.... there are lots of them on every computer for various purposes. See if you can burn them and if so, compare the properties of those to your WAV files.

cheyrayne
At first, windows media wouldn't burn because "an error occured." 
I decided to try converting to mp3, and this worked fine. I'm not sure what was wrong with the .wav file, but this worked fine for my needs (just showing a friend) 
 

So did WM convert the MP3s automatically to .cda? An audio CD can not play MP3s, because an MP3 CD is a data CD, not audio.
If you want to play the CD in normal players, it must be an audio CD.