diff --git a/llm/cli.py b/llm/cli.py
index 4c5151d8..b64dc8cc 100644
--- a/llm/cli.py
+++ b/llm/cli.py
@@ -3310,23 +3310,80 @@ def load_rows(fp):
         rows, label="Embedding", show_percent=True, length=expected_length
     ) as rows:
 
-        def tuples() -> Iterable[Tuple[str, Union[bytes, str]]]:
-            for row in rows:
+        def tuples_generator(rows_list) -> Iterable[Tuple[str, Union[bytes, str]]]:
+            for row in rows_list:
                 values = list(row.values())
                 id: str = prefix + str(values[0])
                 content: Optional[Union[bytes, str]] = None
                 if binary:
                     content = cast(bytes, values[1])
                 else:
-                    content = " ".join(v or "" for v in values[1:])
+                    # Skip metadata if it exists - only concatenate string/numeric values
+                    content_values = []
+                    for v in values[1:]:
+                        if isinstance(v, dict):
+                            continue  # Skip metadata dicts
+                        content_values.append(str(v) if v is not None else "")
+                    content = " ".join(content_values)
                 if prepend and isinstance(content, str):
                     content = prepend + content
                 yield id, content or ""
 
+        def tuples_with_metadata_generator(rows_list) -> Iterable[Tuple[str, Union[bytes, str], Optional[Dict[str, Any]]]]:
+            for row in rows_list:
+                values = list(row.values())
+                keys = list(row.keys())
+                id: str = prefix + str(values[0])
+                content: Optional[Union[bytes, str]] = None
+                metadata: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
+                
+                # Extract metadata if present
+                if "metadata" in keys:
+                    metadata_value = row["metadata"]
+                    if isinstance(metadata_value, dict):
+                        metadata = metadata_value
+                
+                if binary:
+                    content = cast(bytes, values[1])
+                else:
+                    # Only concatenate non-metadata, non-id values
+                    content_values = []
+                    for i, v in enumerate(values[1:], 1):  # Start from index 1 (skip id)
+                        key = keys[i]
+                        if key == "metadata":
+                            continue  # Skip metadata field
+                        content_values.append(str(v) if v is not None else "")
+                    content = " ".join(content_values)
+                
+                if prepend and isinstance(content, str):
+                    content = prepend + content
+                yield id, content or "", metadata
+
+        # Check if any row has metadata to determine which method to use
+        has_metadata = False
+        first_row = None
+        
+        # Peek at the first row to determine if metadata exists
+        rows_list = list(rows)  # Convert to list so we can examine the first row
+        if rows_list:
+            first_row = rows_list[0]
+            has_metadata = isinstance(first_row, dict) and "metadata" in first_row
+        else:
+            # No rows to process
+            return
+
         embed_kwargs = {"store": store}
         if batch_size:
             embed_kwargs["batch_size"] = batch_size
-        collection_obj.embed_multi(tuples(), **embed_kwargs)
+        
+        if has_metadata:
+            collection_obj.embed_multi_with_metadata(
+                (tuples_with_metadata_generator(rows_list)), **embed_kwargs
+            )
+        else:
+            collection_obj.embed_multi(
+                (tuples_generator(rows_list)), **embed_kwargs
+            )
 
 
 @cli.command()
diff --git a/tests/test_embed_cli.py b/tests/test_embed_cli.py
index afee7712..f1ebe35e 100644
--- a/tests/test_embed_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_embed_cli.py
@@ -345,6 +345,38 @@ def test_embed_multi_file_input(tmpdir, use_stdin, prefix, prepend, filename, co
     assert ids == expected_ids
 
 
+def test_embed_multi_with_metadata(tmpdir):
+    """Test that embed-multi works with JSON files containing metadata."""
+    db_path = tmpdir / "embeddings.db"
+    content = '[{"id": "1", "content": "An item", "metadata": {"key1": "value1", "key2": "value2"}}, {"id": "2", "content": "Another item", "metadata": {"key1": "value1", "key2": "value2"}}]'
+    
+    path = tmpdir / "metadata.json"
+    path.write_text(content, "utf-8")
+    
+    args = ["embed-multi", "metadata-test", "-d", str(db_path), "-m", "embed-demo", str(path), "--store"]
+    
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    result = runner.invoke(cli, args, catch_exceptions=False)
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    
+    # Check that everything was embedded correctly with metadata
+    db = sqlite_utils.Database(str(db_path))
+    assert db["embeddings"].count == 2
+    
+    rows = list(db["embeddings"].rows)
+    assert len(rows) == 2
+    
+    # Check first row
+    row1 = [row for row in rows if row["id"] == "1"][0]
+    assert row1["content"] == "An item"
+    assert json.loads(row1["metadata"]) == {"key1": "value1", "key2": "value2"}
+    
+    # Check second row
+    row2 = [row for row in rows if row["id"] == "2"][0]
+    assert row2["content"] == "Another item"
+    assert json.loads(row2["metadata"]) == {"key1": "value1", "key2": "value2"}
+
+
 def test_embed_multi_files_binary_store(tmpdir):
     db_path = tmpdir / "embeddings.db"
     args = ["embed-multi", "binfiles", "-d", str(db_path), "-m", "embed-demo"]