You can use CFL's in any lamp which uses standard incandescent bulbs.
Obviously, a multi head lamp will provide the opportunity to use MORE CFL's in one lamp, but you must insure that the bulb fixtures are for the standard incandescent. There are lam;s out there that have specially configured fixtures. I know ... I've purchased them. After their specially configured bulbs burn out, .... they're useless.

I use CFL's to light my collection of 75 African Violets.

I currently use about (18) lamps, of which one is a multi-head with (3) bulb fixtures. Most of my single fixture lamps are either clip-on or based desk lamps, though I do have a couple engineering lamps. The 3-fixtured lamp is a floor lamp.

That's what I meant using a regular lamp(s) with a CFL. How far away do you have your lights set from your african violets? Do you have them on timers? Any issues?

The lamps are set less than a foot from my plants. I don't keep them on timers, but I'm, typically, here to switch them on/off every morning and night.

I should note that my CFL setup doesn't supply the same level of light as a typical hanging fluorescent shop-light fixture ... and my violets don't all grow as flat as they would if they were under a shop-light, but they do bloom, and, IMO, using CFL's are more convenient for me. My violets are also situated near windows, so that they also receive some light that way.

Thank you for all the info. I have a plant stand and receives great light but only more late spring and summer months. I won't be able to keep my plants in my windows too much longer. During the summer that window becomes the desert.

I don't think a shop light would work for me. I don't think I would like to look at it everyday as my stand is in my dining room. Found this picture online and it's similar to the stand I have minus the cover