Is there any way to make a worn path on hardwood floors look better without refinishing?

I'd say if you can't do it right by refinishing the whole floor, then don't do anything. A patch job is worse than original more or less untouched. A hardwood floor is a selling feature unless it's so beat up it can't be refinished. People buying the house will probably want one of two things. They will want the hardwood floor refinished, or they'll want to put new carpet in. I wouldn't hide the bad repaired patch either, or at least I would make sure your agent knows about it. Better to be honest about stuff than dress it up and make people wonder what else you might have hidden.