In older homes it's not uncommon for flooring to develop a few gaps, generally from expansion and compression as humidity changes. To patch minor gaps use wood paste, weather-stripping or caulk -- all of these materials will compress when the wood expands, and vice-versa.
For bigger gaps, glue long strips of the same type of wood into the gap. Sand the strips to make them flush and stain or paint to match the coloring. One key point: When using this method, make sure to fill these gaps only when the flooring is at its most expanded (when it's most humid). Otherwise, the new wood will split when the surrounding boards swell.
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