control flame

[Hilary]

Can this cantrip affect 3 different flame sources (like 3 torches for example) or only one source with multiple effects?

It says... "If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to three of its non-instantaneous effects active at a time..."

[GentlemanVoodoo]

By RAW, either of your two scenarios is acceptable. The cantrip does not specify it must be the same or different sources so as written you could either.